Temporal effect of electroacupuncture on anxiety-like behaviors and c-Fos expression in the anterior cingulate cortex in a rat model of post-traumatic stress disorder.

•We tested the effects of timed electroacupuncture (T-EA) on anxiety in PTSD rats.•T-EA promoted anxiolytic behavior in the open field and elevated plus maze tests.•T-EA increased Fos expression in the anterior cingulate cortex of PTSD rats.•The study reports on the novel temporal effects of acupuncture on PTSD symptoms.