Abstract
Early studies have shown that Tai Chi Chuan (TCC) contributes to the rehabilitation of cognitive disorders and increases blood oxygen concentration levels in the parietal and occipital brain areas; however, the mechanism of TCC training on brain function remains poorly understood. This study hypothesize that TCC has altered brain function and aims to explore the effects of TCC on functional connection and effective connection of the prefrontal cortex (PFC), motor cortex (MC), and occipital cortex (OC). The participants were 23 experienced Chen–style TCC practitioners (TCC group), and 32 demographically matched TCC–naive healthy controls (control group). Functional and effective connections were calculated using wavelet–based coherence analysis and dynamic Bayesian inference method, respectively. Results showed that beyond the intensity of activity in a particular cortical region induced by TCC, significant differences in brain activity and dynamic configuration of connectivity were observed between the TCC and control groups during resting and movement states. These findings suggested that TCC training improved the connection of PFC, MC and OC in myogenic activity, sympathetic nervous system, and endothelial cell metabolic activities; enhanced brain functional connections and relayed the ability of TCC to improve cognition and the anti–memory decline potential.
Highlights
Brain functions in the elderly, in terms of memory, reasoning, balance, coordination, spatial perception, and imagination, often decline with aging[1]
Tai Chi Chuan (TCC) is a form of exercise involving breathing, body coordination, visual perception and meditation that could induce activations of prefrontal cortex (PFC), motor cortex (MC) and occipital cortex (OC), and improved blood supply to the brain
There was less dynamic configuration of connection between brain regions in the short–term TCC training when the activation occurs; whereas, the long–term TCC training improved the connections of PFC, MC and OC in myogenic activity, sympathetic nervous system, and endothelial cell metabolic activities
Summary
Brain functions in the elderly, in terms of memory, reasoning, balance, coordination, spatial perception, and imagination, often decline with aging[1]. TCC has metabolic equivalents estimated between 1.5 and 4.0 This aerobic intensity overlaps with brisk walking which has been demonstrated to contribute to the prevention of cognitive decline[4], and rehabilitation of dementia[5] and stroke[6]; notably, TCC has been observed to improve power, balance, memory and attention after 6 months[7]. Exploring the effect of TCC on hemodynamic modulation in body movements has become possible with the development of functional near–infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) technique. This study measured the resting state and TCC movement state of ordinary people and long–term TCC practitioners, in order to explore the mechanism action of TCC and the change of brain function in the PFC, MC and OC of TCC training by using fNIRS. The results will provide insights into the mechanism of TCC training and its effect on brain function improvement and will contribute to the improvement of TCC practice strategies
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