Journal article
The Effects of Tai Chi Intervention on Healthy Elderly by Means of Neuroimaging and EEG: A Systematic Review
Frontiers in aging neuroscience, Vol.10, pp.110-110
04/18/2018
DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2018.00110
PMCID: PMC5915963
PMID: 29720936
Abstract
Aging is a process associated with a decline in cognitive and motor functions, which can be attributed to neurological changes in the brain. Tai Chi, a multimodal mind-body exercise, can be practiced by people across all ages. Previous research identified effects of Tai Chi practice on delaying cognitive and motor degeneration. Benefits in behavioral performance included improved fine and gross motor skills, postural control, muscle strength, and so forth. Neural plasticity remained in the aging brain implies that Tai Chi-associated benefits may not be limited to the behavioral level. Instead, neurological changes in the human brain play a significant role in corresponding to the behavioral improvement. However, previous studies mainly focused on the effects of behavioral performance, leaving neurological changes largely unknown. This systematic review summarized extant studies that used brain imaging techniques and EEG to examine the effects of Tai Chi on older adults. Eleven articles were eligible for the final review. Three neuroimaging techniques including fMRI (
N
= 6), EEG (
N
= 4), and MRI (
N
= 1), were employed for different study interests. Significant changes were reported on subjects' cortical thickness, functional connectivity and homogeneity of the brain, and executive network neural function after Tai Chi intervention. The findings suggested that Tai Chi intervention give rise to beneficial neurological changes in the human brain. Future research should develop valid and convincing study design by applying neuroimaging techniques to detect effects of Tai Chi intervention on the central nervous system of older adults. By integrating neuroimaging techniques into randomized controlled trials involved with Tai Chi intervention, researchers can extend the current research focus from behavioral domain to neurological level.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- The Effects of Tai Chi Intervention on Healthy Elderly by Means of Neuroimaging and EEG: A Systematic Review
- Creators
- Zhujun Pan - Mississippi State UniversityXiwen Su - Beijing Normal UniversityQun Fang - Mississippi State UniversityLijuan Hou - Beijing Normal UniversityYounghan Lee - Mississippi State UniversityChih C. Chen - Mississippi State UniversityJohn Lamberth - Mississippi State UniversityMi-Lyang Kim - Soonchunhyang University
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Frontiers in aging neuroscience, Vol.10, pp.110-110
- DOI
- 10.3389/fnagi.2018.00110
- PMID
- 29720936
- PMCID
- PMC5915963
- NLM abbreviation
- Front Aging Neurosci
- ISSN
- 1663-4365
- eISSN
- 1663-4365
- Publisher
- Frontiers Media S.A
- Grant note
- NRF-2017S1A2A2039405 / Ministry of Education NSFC31401018 / National Natural Science Foundation of China
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 04/18/2018
- Academic Unit
- Health, Sport, and Human Physiology
- Record Identifier
- 9984771648102771
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