Brain Functional Specialization Is Enhanced Among Tai Chi Chuan Practitioners

Li-Zhen Chen; Xinru Yuan; Yuanchao Zhang; Shu Zhang; Liye Zou; Lin Yang; Yu-Kai Chang; Qixin Xia; Yiqun Wang; Gao-Xia Wei

doi:10.1016/j.apmr.2020.02.005

Brain Functional Specialization Is Enhanced Among Tai Chi Chuan Practitioners

Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2020 Jul;101(7):1176-1182. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2020.02.005. Epub 2020 Feb 25.

Authors

Li-Zhen Chen¹, Xinru Yuan², Yuanchao Zhang², Shu Zhang¹, Liye Zou³, Lin Yang⁴, Yu-Kai Chang⁵, Qixin Xia⁶, Yiqun Wang⁶, Gao-Xia Wei⁷

Affiliations

¹ Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
² Key Laboratory for NeuroInformation of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China.
³ Exercise and Mental Health Laboratory, School of Psychology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China.
⁴ Department of Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention Research, Alberta Health Services, Calgary, AB, Canada; Departments of Oncology and Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
⁵ Department of Physical Education, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.
⁶ Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
⁷ Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China. Electronic address: weigx@psych.ac.cn.

PMID: 32109436
DOI: 10.1016/j.apmr.2020.02.005

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the effect of long-term Tai Chi Chuan (TCC) practice on practitioners' brain functional specialization compare with the TCC novices.

Design: A cross-sectional study.

Setting: A psychology Institute.

Participants: TCC practitioners (N=22) (52.4±6.8y; 7 men; educated years: 12.18±3.03y) and 18 healthy adults (54.8±6.8y; 8 men; education years: 11.78±2.90y) matched by age, sex, and education were enrolled.

Main outcome measures: Participants underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging scanning and cognitive test to measure the differences in functional specialization and cognitive function. Functional specialization was evaluated by voxel-mirrored homotopic connectivity (VMHC) method.

Results: Lower middle frontal gyrus VMHC in TCC practitioners compared to controls. For TCC practitioners, the longer they practice, the lower their VMHC in precentral and precuneus. TCC practitioners showed better cognition performance.

Conclusions: Changed VMHC indicated that TCC practice could enhance functional specialization in the middle frontal cortex of practitioners, which may be associated with higher-order cognitive ability.

Keywords: Cognitive function; Frontal cortex; Magnetic resonance imaging; Rehabilitation; Tai Chi Chuan.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Brain / diagnostic imaging*
Brain / physiopathology*
Brain Mapping / methods
Cognition / physiology*
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods*
Male
Middle Aged
Reference Values
Risk Assessment
Tai Ji / methods*
Tai Ji / psychology*
Taiwan
Young Adult