Author: Yu AP1, Tam BT2, Lai CW3, Yu DS4, Woo J5, Chung KF6, Hui SS7, Liu JY8, Wei GX9, Siu PM1
Affiliation: <sup>1</sup>* School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, China.
<sup>2</sup>‡ Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.
<sup>3</sup>§ Department of Health Technology and Informatics, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong, China.
<sup>4</sup>∥ The Nethersole School of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong, China.
<sup>5</sup>** Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong, China.
<sup>6</sup>† Department of Psychiatry, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, China.
<sup>7</sup>†† Department of Sports Science and Physical Education, Faculty of Education, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong, China.
<sup>8</sup>¶ School of Nursing, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong, China.
<sup>9</sup>‡‡ Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
Conference/Journal: Am J Chin Med.
Date published: 2018
Other:
Volume ID: 46 , Issue ID: 2 , Pages: 231-259 , Special Notes: doi: 10.1142/S0192415X18500131. , Word Count: 234
Tai Chi Chuan (TCC), a traditional Chinese martial art, is well-documented to result in beneficial consequences in physical and mental health. TCC is regarded as a mind-body exercise that is comprised of physical exercise and meditation. Favorable effects of TCC on body balance, gait, bone mineral density, metabolic parameters, anxiety, depression, cognitive function, and sleep have been previously reported. However, the underlying mechanisms explaining the effects of TCC remain largely unclear. Recently, advances in neuroimaging technology have offered new investigative opportunities to reveal the effects of TCC on anatomical morphologies and neurological activities in different regions of the brain. These neuroimaging findings have provided new clues for revealing the mechanisms behind the observed effects of TCC. In this review paper, we discussed the possible effects of TCC-induced modulation of brain morphology, functional homogeneity and connectivity, regional activity and macro-scale network activity on health. Moreover, we identified possible links between the alterations in brain and beneficial effects of TCC, such as improved motor functions, pain perception, metabolic profile, cognitive functions, mental health and sleep quality. This paper aimed to stimulate further mechanistic neuroimaging studies in TCC and its effects on brain morphology, functional homogeneity and connectivity, regional activity and macro-scale network activity, which ultimately lead to a better understanding of the mechanisms responsible for the beneficial effects of TCC on human health.
KEYWORDS: Cognitive Function; Mood; Pain; Review; Traditional Chinese Exercise
PMID: 29542330 DOI: 10.1142/S0192415X18500131