Author: Cui L1, Yin H2, Lyu S3, Shen Q1, Wang Y1, Li X1, Li J1, Li Y1, Zhu L1
Affiliation: <sup>1</sup>College of P. E. and Sports, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China.
<sup>2</sup>College of P. E. and Sports, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China. yinhengchan@bnu.edu.cn.
<sup>3</sup>College of P. E. and Sports, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China. shaojunl@hotmail.com.
Conference/Journal: Sci Rep.
Date published: 2019 Nov 21
Other:
Volume ID: 9 , Issue ID: 1 , Pages: 17264 , Special Notes: doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-53731-z. , Word Count: 200
This study contrasted the impact of Tai Chi Chuan and general aerobic exercise on brain plasticity in terms of an increased grey matter volume and functional connectivity during structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI) and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI), explored the advantages of Tai Chi Chuan in improving brain structure and function. Thirty-six college students were grouped into Tai Chi Chuan (Bafa Wubu of Tai Chi), general aerobic exercise (brisk walking) and control groups. Individuals were assessed with a sMRI and rs-fMRI scan before and after an 8-week training period. The VBM toolbox was used to conduct grey matter volume analyses. The CONN toolbox was used to conduct several seed-to-voxel functional connectivity analyses. We can conclude that compared with general aerobic exercise, eight weeks of Tai Chi Chuan exercise has a stronger effect on brain plasticity, which is embodied in the increase of grey matter volume in left middle occipital gyrus, left superior temporal gyrus and right middle temporal gyrus and the enhancement of functional connectivity between the left middle frontal gyrus and left superior parietal lobule. These findings demonstrate the potential and advantages of Tai Chi Chuan exercises in eliciting brain plasticity.
PMID: 31754170 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-53731-z