Yang Yuan, Chen Tingting, Shao Mingming, Yan Shoufu, Yue Guang H, Jiang Changhao
Beijing Key Laboratory of Physical Fitness Evaluation and Technical Analysis, Capital University of Physical Education and Sports, Beijing, China.
The Center of Neuroscience and Sports, Capital University of Physical Education and Sports, Beijing, China.
Front Hum Neurosci. 2020 Jan 22;13:476. doi: 10.3389/fnhum.2019.00476. eCollection 2019.
Inhibitory control is a sub-ability of executive function and plays an important role in the entire cognitive process. However, declines in inhibitory control during aging significantly impair the quality of life of elderly people. Investigating methods to delay the decline of inhibitory control has become a focal point in current research. Tai Chi Chuan (TCC) is one effective method used to delay cognitive declines in older adults. However, the specific effects of TCC on inhibitory control and the mechanisms through which TCC may improve cognition in older adults have not been comprehensively investigated.
The study explores possible neurological mechanisms related to the effects of TCC interventions on inhibitory control in older people using a functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) technique and reaction times (RTs).
A total of 26 healthy, elderly people who had not received TCC training completed all study procedures. The subjects were randomized to either the TCC group or the control group. Subjects in the TCC group were taught TCC by a certified instructor and trained for 8 weeks. The control group continued to perform general daily activities. The Flanker task was administered to every participant to evaluate inhibitory control pre- and post-intervention. While participants were performing the Flanker task, fNIRS data were collected.
Post-intervention, significant differences for incongruent flankers were found only for the TCC intervention group. Faster RTs were observed for the incongruent flankers in the TCC group than in the control group ( < 0.05). Analysis of the fNIRS data revealed an increase in oxy-Hb in the prefrontal cortex during the incongruent flankers after the TCC exercise intervention.
The TCC intervention significantly improved inhibitory control in older adults, suggesting that TCC is an effective, suitable exercise for improving executive function and neurological health in elderly people.
Chinese Clinical Trial Register, ChiCTR1900028457.
抑制控制是执行功能的一种子能力，在整个认知过程中发挥着重要作用。然而，衰老过程中抑制控制能力的下降会显著损害老年人的生活质量。研究延缓抑制控制能力下降的方法已成为当前研究的一个焦点。太极拳是用于延缓老年人认知能力下降的一种有效方法。然而，太极拳对抑制控制的具体影响以及其改善老年人认知的机制尚未得到全面研究。
本研究使用功能近红外光谱（fNIRS）技术和反应时间（RTs），探索太极拳干预对老年人抑制控制影响的可能神经机制。
共有26名未接受过太极拳训练的健康老年人完成了所有研究程序。将受试者随机分为太极拳组或对照组。太极拳组的受试者由认证教练教授太极拳，并进行8周的训练。对照组继续进行日常一般活动。在干预前后，对每位参与者进行侧翼任务测试以评估抑制控制能力。在参与者执行侧翼任务时，收集fNIRS数据。
干预后，仅在太极拳干预组中发现不一致侧翼刺激存在显著差异。与对照组相比，太极拳组在不一致侧翼刺激下的反应时间更快（<0.05）。对 fNIRS 数据的分析显示，太极拳运动干预后，在不一致侧翼刺激期间前额叶皮质的氧合血红蛋白增加。
太极拳干预显著改善了老年人的抑制控制能力，表明太极拳是改善老年人执行功能和神经健康的一种有效且合适的运动。
中国临床试验注册中心，ChiCTR1900028457。
