Task-Switching Performance Improvements After Tai Chi Chuan Training Are Associated With Greater Prefrontal Activation in Older Adults.

Author: Wu MT1,2, Tang PF1,3,4,5,6, Goh JOS3,5,6,7, Chou TL3,5,7, Chang YK8, Hsu YC9, Chen YJ9, Chen NC3, Tseng WI3,5,9, Gau SS3,5,7,10, Chiu MJ3,5,7,11, Lan C4
Affiliation:
1School and Graduate Institute of Physical Therapy, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
2Yonghe Cardinal Tien Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
3Graduate Institute of Brain and Mind Sciences, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
4Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
5Neurobiology and Cognitive Science Center, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
6Center for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
7Department of Psychology, College of Science, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
8Department of Physical Education, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan.
9Institute of Medical Device and Imaging, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
10Department of Psychiatry, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
11Department of Neurology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
Conference/Journal: Front Aging Neurosci.
Date published: 2018 Sep 24
Other: Volume ID: 10 , Pages: 280 , Special Notes: doi: 10.3389/fnagi.2018.00280. eCollection 2018. , Word Count: 266

Studies have shown that Tai Chi Chuan (TCC) training has benefits on task-switching ability. However, the neural correlates underlying the effects of TCC training on task-switching ability remain unclear. Using task-related functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) with a numerical Stroop paradigm, we investigated changes of prefrontal brain activation and behavioral performance during task-switching before and after TCC training and examined the relationships between changes in brain activation and task-switching behavioral performance. Cognitively normal older adults were randomly assigned to either the TCC or control (CON) group. Over a 12-week period, the TCC group received three 60-min sessions of Yang-style TCC training weekly, whereas the CON group only received one telephone consultation biweekly and did not alter their life style. All participants underwent assessments of physical functions and neuropsychological functions of task-switching, and fMRI scans, before and after the intervention. Twenty-six (TCC, N = 16; CON, N = 10) participants completed the entire experimental procedure. We found significant group by time interaction effects on behavioral and brain activation measures. Specifically, the TCC group showed improved physical function, decreased errors on task-switching performance, and increased left superior frontal activation for Switch > Non-switch contrast from pre- to post-intervention, that were not seen in the CON group. Intriguingly, TCC participants with greater prefrontal activation increases in the switch condition from pre- to post-intervention presented greater reductions in task-switching errors. These findings suggest that TCC training could potentially provide benefits to some, although not all, older adults to enhance the function of their prefrontal activations during task-switching.

KEYWORDS: Tai Chi Chuan; aging; cognition; executive function; exercise intervention; functional neuroimaging

PMID: 30319391 PMCID: PMC6165861 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2018.00280

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