Tai Chi practice enables prefrontal cortex bilateral activation and gait performance prioritization during dual-task negotiating obstacle in older adults

Abstract

BackgroundWith aging, the cognitive function of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) declined, postural control weakened, and fall risk increased. As a mind–body exercise, regular Tai Chi practice could improve postural control and effectively prevent falls; however, underlying brain mechanisms remained unclear, which were shed light on by analyzing the effect of Tai Chi on the PFC in older adults by means of functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS).Methods36 healthy older adults without Tai Chi experience were divided randomly into Tai Chi group and Control group. The experiment was conducted four times per week for 16 weeks; 27 participants remained and completed the experiment. Negotiating obstacle task (NOT) and negotiating obstacle with cognitive task (NOCT) were performed pre- and post-intervention, and Brodmann area 10 (BA10) was detected using fNIRS for hemodynamic response. A three-dimensional motion capture system measured walking speed.ResultsAfter intervention in the Tai Chi group under NOCT, the HbO2 concentration change value (ΔHbO2) in BA10 was significantly greater (right BA10: p = 0.002, left BA10: p = 0.001), walking speed was significantly faster (p = 0.040), and dual-task cost was significantly lower than pre-intervention (p = 0.047). ΔHbO2 in BA10 under NOCT was negatively correlated with dual-task cost (right BA10: r = −0.443, p = 0.021, left BA10: r = −0.448, p = 0.019). There were strong negative correlations between ΔHbO2 and ΔHbR under NOCT either pre-intervention (left PFC r = −0.841, p < 0.001; right PFC r = −0.795, p < 0.001) or post-intervention (left PFC r = −0.842, p < 0.001; right PFC r = −0.744, p < 0.001).ConclusionTai Chi practice might increase the cognitive resources in older adults through the PFC bilateral activation to prioritize gait performance during negotiating obstacles under a dual-task condition.

Neural Correlates of Balance Skill Learning in Young and Older Individuals: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

“…These data agree with the reduced oxygenation in the right and left hemispheric prefrontal cortex assessed by applying fNIRS during walking following balance training [ 36 ]. However, 64 sessions of Tai Chi resulted in an increased PFC activity during the execution of a negotiating obstacle task with an added cognitive task [ 77 ]. No functional connectivity changes were reported after 6 weeks of balance training.…”

Applications of functional near-infrared spectroscopy in non-drug therapy of traditional Chinese medicine: a review

“…Another study measured hemoglobin concentrations during negotiating obstacle with cognitive task. Tai chi chuan practice improved cognitive function in the elderly through bilateral activation of the PFC and prioritized gait performance when negotiating obstacles under dual-task conditions ( Chen Y. et al, 2022 ). In conclusion, the study of the brain mechanism of tai chi chuan using fNIRS mainly focused on the influence of tai chi chuan on inhibitory control ability, functional connectivity of brain areas, and limb motor function.…”

Atypical frontotemporal cortical activity in first-episode adolescent-onset schizophrenia during verbal fluency task: A functional near-infrared spectroscopy study

“…Two wavelengths of infrared light (730 nm and 850 nm) were used, with a sampling rate of 11 Hz. Neighboring infrared light sources and detectors were arranged at a distance of 3 cm, and the link between the neighboring source and detector was defined as the “channel.” The 48-channel system consisted of 15 source probes and 16 detector probes covering the prefrontal and bilateral temporal regions, the channels were located according to Brodmann area ( 24 , 25 ) ( Figures 1A , B ).…”