For the same case of depression, antidepressants light up the left hippocampus and right occipital lobe—regions tied to memory and visual processing. Acupuncture, on the other hand, activates the right cingulate gyrus and right caudate nucleus, which govern emotional regulation and the brain's reward system. Two treatments, two different pathways—this is exactly what a new study published in the journal Medicine observed after analyzing brain scans from 357 patients with major depressive disorder.
The study design split participants into two groups: one received real acupuncture, while the other received "sham acupuncture"—using needles that don't actually penetrate the skin, or inserting them at non-acupuncture points. Scan results showed that those who received real acupuncture had notably increased activity in the right cingulate gyrus and right caudate nucleus. The more acupuncture sessions a person completed, the more pronounced the changes in the left amygdala (responsible for emotional processing).
The Brain Responds, But That Doesn't Mean Lasting Change
Amir Afkhami, a psychiatrist and professor at George Washington University, notes that if you're already interested in acupuncture and can safely access it, "it can be a helpful adjunctive therapy." But the details still matter—he emphasizes there's no need to force yourself to face needles just because you feel you "should give it a try," since that mindset may not actually benefit your mental health.
Randy D'Amico, a neurosurgeon at Lenox Hill Hospital, part of Northwell, cautions that this study shows changes in brain activity—not evidence of permanent rewiring. He points out that depression itself involves circuits related to emotion, motivation, and reward, and acupuncture may tap into some of the same circuits, triggering changes in related brain regions. But these changes, he stresses, are temporary.
Thea Gallagher, clinical associate professor at NYU Langone Health and co-host of the Mind in View podcast, offers another angle: acupuncture itself may simply be a relaxing experience. If it helps someone reduce physical tension, sleep better, ease pain, or feel more connected to their body, all of these effects could indirectly influence mood. She believes multiple mechanisms are likely at work simultaneously, rather than any single cause.
This isn't the first study to link acupuncture with improved depression symptoms. A 2024 review published in Frontiers in Neuroscience found that acupuncture was "significantly more effective" than medication alone at lowering depression scores. A small 2025 study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders Reports also found that participants who received daily scalp acupuncture showed "significantly better" depression scores compared to a control group that continued their existing treatment plan alone.
But the evidence isn't unanimous. A small 2023 study published in JAMA Network Open found no difference in symptoms between depression patients who received auricular acupuncture and those who didn't.
Who Should Consider Adding Acupuncture to Their Treatment Plan
Doctors uniformly stress that acupuncture is not currently a first-line treatment for depression. Dr. Afkhami is blunt on this point: patients should never stop taking antidepressants or discontinue proven treatments like cognitive behavioral therapy in order to try acupuncture alone.
But for those already undergoing first-line treatment who still feel their symptoms have plateaued, Hillary Ammon, a clinical psychologist at the Center for Anxiety and Women's Emotional Wellness, believes acupuncture "may be suitable for people who haven't responded well to first-line treatments, or whose progress has stalled." She also recommends discussing any changes with a healthcare provider first. Gallagher echoes this view: depression often requires a multi-pronged approach—medication addresses the physiological symptoms, therapy helps reshape thought and behavior patterns, and acupuncture may offer another pathway, helping regulate some of the brain and body systems involved in depression.
If acupuncture itself doesn't appeal to you, Dr. Afkhami offers several everyday practices that complement evidence-based treatment plans: regular exercise, a balanced diet, a consistent sleep schedule, limiting alcohol, getting outside for natural light regularly, maintaining social connections, and cutting back on social media and media content that tends to heighten anxiety. Dr. D'Amico sums up the core challenge: figuring out which combination works best for each individual patient.
