Study participants
loss of consciousness, neurological and psychiatric disorders, pain, KOA, claustrophobia, head trauma, NRS
HYPERPYREXIA, ORGANIC DISEASE, DISEASES
Enrolled were KOA patients having undergone primary unilateral TKA. The inclusion criteria included (1) aged 60–80 years; (2) right‐handed; (3) a pain intensity score of 5 or higher on a 0–10 Numerical Rating Scale (NRS); (4) a score > 24 on the Minimum Mental State Examination. The excluded criteria included (1) a history of neurological and psychiatric disorders, or head trauma with loss of consciousness; (2) serious renal, cardiovascular, respiratory or other organic diseases; (3) any contraindications to rs‐fMRI scanning (such as defibrillator, cardiac pacemaker, metal stents or electronic implant, intraocular mental foreign body, claustrophobia, and hyperpyrexia); (4) unwillingness to sign the consent form; (5) having received acupuncture/EA in the past three months.The sex‐ and age‐matched healthy controls (HCs) without any illness‐induced pain sensation or psychological diseases were also recruited.