Objective To investigate the central mechanism of the hippocampus in regulating gastric motility in a rat model of gastric distension by electroacupuncture at gastric Shu-Mu points. Methods A total of 40 Sprague-Dawley rats, aged 7 weeks, were randomly divided into model group, Weishu group, Zhongwan group, Zhongwan+Weishu group, and non-meridian/acupoint group, with 8 rats in each group. Gastric balloon dilatation was performed to establish a rat model of gastric distension. The rats in the model group were not given acupuncture, and those in the other groups were given electroacupuncture once a day, 20 minutes each time, for 7 consecutive days. A pressure transducer was used to measure intragastric pressure, and a double-channel intelligent gastrointestinal electrograph was used to obtain surface electrogastrogram. Immunofluorescence assay was used to measure the expression level of c-fos in the hippocampus, and the microarray electrode technique was used to record the change in the discharge of hippocampal neural cells. Results Compared with the model group, the Zhongwan group, the Weishu group, and the Zhongwan+Weishu group had significant increases in the amplitudes of intragastric pressure and gastric electrical activity (P<0.05), the expression of c-fos in the hippocampal CA1 region, and neuronal discharge frequency in the hippocampal CA1 region (P<0.05), while the non-meridian/acupoint group had no significant changes in the above indicators (P>0.05). Compared with the Zhongwan group and the Weishu group, the Zhongwan+Weishu group had significant increases in the amplitudes of intragastric pressure and gastric electrical activity (P<0.05), the expression of c-fos in the hippocampal CA1 region (P<0.05), and neuronal discharge frequency in the hippocampal CA1 region (P<0.05). Conclusion The hippocampal CA1 neurons are involved in the mechanism of electroacupuncture at gastric Shu-Mu points in regulating gastric motility.