Author: Jianwei Zhang1, Tianming Gao1, Yameng Li1, Zhenshao Song2, Meize Cui1, Qiuyang Wei1, Zaihao Chen1, Fang Peng3, Shaojun Lyu1
Affiliation: <sup>1</sup> College of Physical Education and Sports Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China.
<sup>2</sup> Student Psychological Counseling and Service Center, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China.
<sup>3</sup> Department of PE, Peking University, Beijing, China.
Conference/Journal: Front Physiol
Date published: 2023 Jan 25
Other:
Volume ID: 14 , Pages: 1036010 , Special Notes: doi: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1036010. , Word Count: 297
Objective: This pilot study aimed to explore the mechanism of the effects of Bafa Wubu of Tai Chi (BWTC) on anxiety and depression in college students using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (RS-fMRI). Methods: Eighteen college students (5 males and 13 females) with anxiety and depression met the study criteria and were randomly divided into an experimental group (aged 24.20 ± 4.07 years) and a control group (aged 22.50 ± 5.95). The experimental group received an eight-week BWTC intervention five times/week for 60 min/session. The control group maintained normal daily life without any exercise intervention. These students were assessed using RS-fMRI scans, the self-rating anxiety scale (SAS), and the self-rating depression scale (SDS). Spearman correlation analysis was used, and statistical significance was defined as a two-sided p-value of <0.05. Results: After the intervention, the SAS and SDS scores of the BWTC group significantly reduced (p = 0.002; p = 0.001). Compared with the control group, the fALFF values of the right middle frontal gyrus, orbital part (Frontal_Mid_Orb_R) (p = 0.043), right inferior occipital gyrus (Occipital_Inf_R) (p = 0.003), and right middle temporal gyrus of the temporal pole (Temporal_Pole_Mid_R) (p = 0.003) in the BWTC group increased significantly; the fALFF values of the left middle frontal gyrus (Frontal_Mid_L) (p = 0.001) and right supplementary motor area (Supp_Motor_Area_R) (p = 0.010) in BWTC group decreased significantly. The fALFF values of Frontal_Mid_Orb_R were significantly positively correlated with the SDS score (r = 0.852, p = 0.015) and the fALFF values of Frontal_Mid_L were significantly negatively correlated with the SAS score (r = -0.797, p = 0.032). Conclusion: In this pilot study with college students, BWTC alleviated anxiety and depression, potentially through modulating activity in the Frontal_Mid_L and Frontal_Mid_Orb_R, respectively.
Keywords: Bafa Wubu of Tai Chi; RS-fMRI; anxiety; college students’; depression.
PMID: 36760533 PMCID: PMC9905723 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1036010