Journal of Capital Medical University ›› 2026, Vol. 47 ›› Issue (3): 541-548.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1006-7795.2026.03.017

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A study on the differences in excitation-inhibition balance between Wood Element and Metal Element individuals among the Traditional Chinese Medicine Five Element people

Lin Jin1，2,  Jia Hongxiao1，2*#,  Lü Hongpeng1，2*#,  Dai Zhiqing1，2,  Jiang Xinyue3,  Xu Huanshu1,2,  Zhao Ziyi1,2,  Zhang Yunhe4   

  1. 1.Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University；National Center for Mental Disorders；National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders；Beijing Key Laboratory of Intelligent Drug Research and Development for Mental Disorders， Beijing 100088, China; 2. Advanced Innovation Center for Human Brain Protection, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China;3. Beijing University of Chinese Medicine Third Affiliated Hospital, Beijing 100029, China; 4. Chifeng Psychiatric Hospital,Chifeng 024200， Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region，China
  • Received:2026-02-02 Revised:2026-03-09 Online:2026-06-21 Published:2026-06-26
  • Supported by:
    This study was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(82305193，82474429),  Capital Medical University Clinical-Basic Cooperation Platform Cultivation Project(JLPYPT2025002),Capital Health Development Scientific Research Special Project (2026-2-2124), Beijing Traditional Chinese Medicine Inheritance “New 3+3” Program Demonstration Case Project（2023-ZYSF-19）.

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Abstract: Objective  To compare excitation-inhibition (E/I) balance between Wood Element and Metal Element individuals by using the electroencephalography (EEG) derived functional excitation-inhibition ratio (fEI), and to investigate their functional regulatory characteristics from a neuroelectrophysiological perspective within the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Five Element typology. Methods  Typical Wood Element and Metal Element participants were recruited according to the previously established Quantitative Specification for Facial Phenotype Classification of TCM Five Element (Morphological) Types. Resting-state, eyes-closed EEG was recorded. Electrodes were grouped into six regions of interest: prefrontal, frontal, central, parietal, temporal, and occipital. Frequency bands were defined as theta (4-8 Hz), alpha (8-13 Hz), lower beta (13-19 Hz), high beta (19-30 Hz), and gamma (30-45 Hz). Power spectral density (PSD) and fEI were calculated for each band. Group comparisons were conducted at both whole-brain and regional levels, with Bonferroni correction applied for multiple comparisons. Results  Thirty participants were included in each group. At the whole-brain level, no significant differences in PSD were observed across frequency bands. Whole-brain fEI values in the theta, alpha, and lower beta bands were significantly higher in the Wood Element group than in the Metal Element group, whereas no significant differences were found in the high beta or gamma bands. At the regional level, occipital fEI in the theta band was higher in the Wood Element group than in the Metal Element group; in the alpha band, fEI values in the prefrontal, frontal, central, parietal, and occipital regions were also higher in the Wood Element group than in the Metal Element group. Conclusion  Wood Element and Metal Element individuals exhibit frequency-specific differences in E/I regulation at the neural activity level, indicating distinct patterns of brain functional regulation across TCM Five Element types.

Key words: Traditional Chinese Medicine Five Element people, electroencephalography, excitation-inhibition balance, functional excitation-inhibition ratio, neuroelectrophysiology, Traditional Chinese Medicine psychology

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