Acupuncture seems to rewire the brain in depression, brain scans reveal

A meta-analysis of seven clinical trials involving 357 people with major depressive disorder found that acupuncture treatment increased activity in brain regions linked to emotional control and reward processing (right cingulum and caudate nucleus), and more acupuncture sessions correlated with greater change in the amygdala. The effect pattern differed from antidepressants alone, and acupuncture was more effective at reducing depression and anxiety scores in study volunteers.

Most acupuncture participants were also taking antidepressant medication; this is a meta-analysis of existing trials rather than a new primary study. Clinical translation in humans at scale will require further research.