The Potential Advantages of Tai Chi Chuan in Promoting Inhibitory Control and Spontaneous Neural Activity in Young Adults

Tai Chi Chuan teaching on alleviating mental fatigue among college students: insights from ERPs

Background

Mental fatigue is a prevalent issue, especially among college students, which significantly impacts learning efficiency. Existing interventions like caffeine use have side-effects, highlighting the need for alternative approaches. Tai Chi Chuan (TCC), a traditional Chinese mind -body exercise, shows promise in alleviating mental fatigue, yet its neural mechanisms on alleviating mental fatigue, particularly from the perspective of inhibitory control, remain unclear.

Objectives

This study aimed to fill this gap by investigating the effects of TCC on mental fatigue and cognitive function in college students using ERP measures based on the Go/NoGo task.

Methods

Fifty-two healthy college students were randomly assigned to the TCC group (n = 18), aerobic exercise (AE) group (n = 17), or control (CON) group (n = 17). Mental fatigue was induced via the Stroop task, followed by a 20-min intervention of TCC practice, ergometer exercise, or sitting rest. Reaction time (RT), Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores, and EEG data were collected.

Results

The data showed that after the Stroop task, all groups exhibited signs of mental fatigue, with increased VAS scores and RTs. However, following the 20-min intervention, the TCC group demonstrated more significant improvements in VAS scores, RTs, and ERP components (such as increased NoGo-P3 and Go-P3 amplitudes, shortened Go-P3 latencies, and decreased NoGo-N2 amplitudes) compared to the AE and CON groups.

Conclusion

These findings indicate that practicing TCC can effectively alleviate mental fatigue and facilitate cognitive recovery in college students after sustained cognitive tasks. This study provides new insights into the neural mechanisms of TCC's beneficial effects on alleviating mental fatigue.

Effects of Different Traditional Chinese Mind-Body Exercises on Learning Abilities, Executive Functions, and Brain Connectivity in Children with Learning Difficulties

This study examines the effects of three traditional Chinese mind-body exercises-Tai Chi (TC), Baduanjin (BD), and Health Qigong Yijinjing (YJJ)-on learning abilities, executive functions, and prefrontal brain connectivity in children with learning difficulties. Seventy-two children (aged 9-11) with learning difficulties were randomly assigned to TC, BD, YJJ, or a control group (CON). Intervention groups practiced for 12 weeks (45 min, three times per week), while the control group maintained their regular physical education. Assessments included Academic Performance Ranking (APR), Pupil Rating Scale (PRS), and executive functions. Granger causality analyses were conducted on the functional near-infrared spectroscopy data to derive the effective connectivity at the brain region levels. Post-intervention, all intervention groups showed significant improvements over the control group in PRS and APR scores (p < 0.05), with the TC group achieving higher PRS scores than the BD group. The TC group also demonstrated superior improvements in executive functions, particularly in inhibition and working memory. Additionally, the TC group exhibited significantly enhanced effective connectivity from the left and right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex to Brodmann area 8, indicating improved brain communication. Traditional Chinese mind-body exercises, particularly Tai Chi, improve academic performance, executive functions, and prefrontal cortex connectivity in children with learning difficulties. Tai Chi demonstrates superior outcomes, supporting its potential as an effective intervention for cognitive and academic development.

Tai Chi for balance and postural control in people with peripheral neuropathy: A scoping review

BACKGROUND

Peripheral neuropathy can affect balance and increase fall risk. Tai Chi is known to activate neuromuscular systems and may help improve balance and postural control. We conducted a scoping review of clinical studies that evaluated the impact of Tai Chi on balance and related neurobiological outcomes among individuals with peripheral neuropathy.

METHODS

We systematically searched three databases from inception to December 19, 2023 and identified 11 eligible clinical studies. We extracted trial information from each study and performed a qualitative study features analysis to summarize the clinical evidence and neurobiological mechanisms of Tai Chi in regulating balance among people with peripheral neuropathy.

RESULTS

We found that among 508 participants with clinical peripheral neuropathy, Tai Chi significantly improved single leg stance, 6-min walk, timed up-and-go tests, and gait speed when measured pre- and post-exercise. However, the differences between Tai Chi and sham exercise control that involved active calisthenics and stretching exercises were not statistically significant. Studies that used quantitative sensory testing showed that Tai Chi was associated with significant increases in plantar vibration and tactile sensitivity. The effect of Tai Chi on postural control varied depending on plantar sensory loss status, and results on muscle strength remained mixed. Other neurobiological effects involve strengthening muscle performance and proprioception and consolidating cognitive awareness of walking strategy and practical behavioral techniques.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings indicated that Tai Chi may enhance balance, postural control, and gait speed in patients with peripheral neuropathy, possibly through sensory restoration, although further research is needed to confirm this. Whether Tai Chi improves muscle strength or other gait health parameters is inconclusive. Rigorous randomized clinical trials should be conducted to determine the effect of Tai Chi on balance in this population by measuring functional balance and quantitative sensory outcomes.

The influence of traditional Chinese exercise on brain function compared with other sports: A meta-analysis on functional neuroimaging studies

Traditional Chinese Exercise (TCE) has been shown to improve quality of life, and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is a highly used method for investigating its mechanism. However, there is currently a lack of systematic reviews and meta-analyses focusing on TCE-related brain changes. This study aims to fill this gap by conducting a meta-analysis on brain changes of TCE with fMRI technology. We searched relevant studies published until February 2024. Independent researchers conducted literature screening, quality assessment, and clinical and neuroimaging data extraction. Focis were filtered from eligible studies, and meta-analysis was performed using seed-based d mapping. Twenty-three studies involving 1182 participants were included in this study. The result found that longitudinal TCE increased brain activity in the left anterior cingulate gyri, right fusiform gyrus, right middle temporal gyrus, left middle occipital gyrus and left frontal superior compared with other exercises or healthcare. Subgroup analysis showed that the brain activity in the right superior frontal gyrus dorsolateral; right cortico-spinal projections; corpus callosum; right inferior network; right gyrus rectus; left middle occipital gyrus were decreased after TCE compared to other exercise among healthy participants. The right median cingulate gyri was increased after Baduanjin (one of the TCE) compared to other exercise; the left precentral gyrus activity was increased after Tai chi chuan (TCC) practice compared to other exercise. The brain activity in the right insula, right supplementary motor area, and left anterior thalamic were significantly increased after long-time TCC exercise. TCE effectively improved the cognitive level of the subjects. Among them, the MoCA score increased, but Memory Quotient was not improved. Research results indicate that TCE have specific neuromodulatory effects, and different TCE have different neuromodulatory patterns.

Physical training improves inhibitory control in children aged 7-12 years: An fNIRS study

Physical exercise plays a crucial role in the development of cognition and brain functions in children. Inhibitory control is an advanced cognition that affects children's life and learning. In the current study, the relationship between physical training and inhibitory control was explored. In total, 80 children were randomly but equally assigned to the experimental and control groups. The experimental group underwent physical training (volleyball) for 60 min, thrice a week for 12 weeks. In contrast, the control group did not undergo any training and continued with their daily routines. The flanker task and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) were employed to investigate the effects of 12-week physical training on inhibitory control and changes in the oxy-Hb concentration in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) during the task. The behavioral results revealed that the experimental group performed better on the flanker task (e.g., shorter response time [F(1,74) = 18.420, p < 0.001, ηp2 = 0.199] and higher accuracy [F(1,74) = 15.00, p < 0.001, ηp2 = 0.169] than the control group. The oxy-Hb concentration in the right dorsolateral PFC (R-DLPFC) was higher and the activation level of this region was higher during the flanker task [F(1,74) = 6.216, p < 0.05, ηp2 = 0.077]. Moreover, the McNemar test revealed improved cognitive performance in response time or accuracy and R-DLPFC activation induced by physical exercise coincided significantly (χ2 = 5.49, p < 0.05; χ2 = 6.081, p < 0.05). These findings suggest that the R-DLPFC is likely the neural substrate for improved cognitive performance elicited by 12-week physical training.

The neurobiological effects of mind-body exercise: a systematic review and meta-analysis of neuroimaging studies

The neurobiological effects of mind-body exercise on brain activation, functional neural connections and structural changes in the brain remain elusive. This systematic review and coordinate-based meta-analysis investigated the changes in resting-state and task-based brain activation, as well as structural brain changes before and after mind-body exercise compared to waitlist or active controls based on published structural or functional magnetic resonance imaging randomized controlled trials or cross-sectional studies. Electronic database search and manual search in relevant publications yielded 34 empirical studies with low-to-moderate risk of bias (assessed by Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials or Joanna Briggs Institute's critical appraisal checklist for analytical cross-sectional studies) that fulfilled the inclusion criteria, with 26 studies included in the narrative synthesis and 8 studies included in the meta-analysis. Coordinate-based meta-analysis showed that, while mind-body exercise enhanced the activation of the left anterior cingulate cortex within the default mode network (DMN), it induced more deactivation in the left supramarginal gyrus within the ventral attention network (uncorrected ps < 0.05). Meta-regression with duration of mind-body practice as a factor showed that, the activation of right inferior parietal gyrus within the DMN showed a positive association with increasing years of practice (voxel-corrected p < 0.005). Although mind-body exercise is shown to selectively modulate brain functional networks supporting attentional control and self-awareness, the overall certainty of evidence is limited by small number of studies. Further investigations are needed to understand the effects of both short-term and long-term mind-body exercise on structural changes in the brain.PROSPERO registration number: CRD42021248984.

Tai Chi increases functional connectivity and decreases chronic fatigue syndrome: A pilot intervention study with machine learning and fMRI analysis

BACKGROUND

The latest guidance on chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) recommends exercise therapy. Tai Chi, an exercise method in traditional Chinese medicine, is reportedly helpful for CFS. However, the mechanism remains unclear. The present longitudinal study aimed to detect the influence of Tai Chi on functional brain connectivity in CFS.

METHODS

The study recruited 20 CFS patients and 20 healthy controls to receive eight sessions of Tai Chi exercise over a period of one month. Before the Tai Chi exercise, an abnormal functional brain connectivity for recognizing CFS was generated by a linear support vector model. The prediction ability of the structure was validated with a random forest classification under a permutation test. Then, the functional connections (FCs) of the structure were analyzed in the large-scale brain network after Tai Chi exercise while taking the changes in the Fatigue Scale-14, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and the 36-item short-form health survey (SF-36) as clinical effectiveness evaluation. The registration number is ChiCTR2000032577 in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry.

RESULTS

1) The score of the Fatigue Scale-14 decreased significantly in the CFS patients, and the scores of the PSQI and SF-36 changed significantly both in CFS patients and healthy controls. 2) Sixty FCs were considered significant to discriminate CFS (P = 0.000, best accuracy 90%), with 80.5% ± 9% average accuracy. 3) The FCs that were majorly related to the left frontoparietal network (FPN) and default mode network (DMN) significantly increased (P = 0.0032 and P = 0.001) in CFS patients after Tai Chi exercise. 4) The change of FCs in the left FPN and DMN were positively correlated (r = 0.40, P = 0.012).

CONCLUSION

These results demonstrated that the 60 FCs we found using machine learning could be neural biomarkers to discriminate between CFS patients and healthy controls. Tai Chi exercise may improve CFS patients' fatigue syndrome, sleep quality, and body health statement by strengthening the functional connectivity of the left FPN and DMN under these FCs. The findings promote our understanding of Tai Chi exercise's value in treating CFS.

The Effects of Tai Chi on the Executive Functions and Physical Fitness in Middle-Aged Adults with Depression: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective

The present study examined the effects of Tai Chi exercise on the executive functions (EFs) and physical fitness of middle-aged adults with depression.

Methods

A total of 39 middle-aged adults with depression (M_age = 50.59, SD = 7.38) were randomly assigned to the Tai Chi group (n = 20) or the waiting-list control group (n = 19). The Tai Chi group engaged in two 90 min sessions of Tai Chi exercise per week for 12 weeks; the waiting-list control group was asked to maintain their usual daily routines for 12 weeks. Depression symptoms, EFs (i.e., inhibitory control, planning, working memory, and cognitive flexibility), and physical fitness (i.e., cardiovascular fitness, muscular strength, muscular endurance, power, and flexibility) were evaluated at the baseline (pretest), 6-week (mid-test), and 12-week (post-test) marks.

Results

Both groups showed decreased depression symptoms over time. Compared with the control group, the Tai Chi group showed decreased reaction times for incongruent conditions in the Stroop test from pretest to mid- and post-test, and shorter reaction time for incongruent conditions in the Stroop test than the control group at post-test; the Tai Chi group performed significantly better than the control group in overall total move score of Tower of London (TOL). The Tai Chi group also showed increased total correct scores of TOL from pretest to mid- and post-test, and greater total correct scores of TOL than the control group at post-test. Additionally, results indicated that Tai Chi exercise comprehensively improved physical fitness from pretest to mid- and post-test. Greater performance in terms of cardiovascular fitness, muscular strength, and power was also found in the Tai Chi group at post-test than in the control group.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that the 12-week Tai Chi exercise improved inhibitory control, planning and working memory aspects of executive functions, and physical fitness in middle-aged adults with depression.