Li-Zhen Chen1, Xinru Yuan2, Yuanchao Zhang2, Shu Zhang1, Liye Zou3, Lin Yang4, Yu-Kai Chang5, Qixin Xia6, Yiqun Wang6, Gao-Xia Wei7. 1. Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China. 2. Key Laboratory for NeuroInformation of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China. 3. Exercise and Mental Health Laboratory, School of Psychology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China. 4. Department of Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention Research, Alberta Health Services, Calgary, AB, Canada; Departments of Oncology and Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada. 5. Department of Physical Education, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China. 6. Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China. 7. Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China. Electronic address: weigx@psych.ac.cn.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of long-term Tai Chi Chuan (TCC) practice on practitioners' brain functional specialization compare with the TCC novices. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. SETTING: A psychology Institute. PARTICIPANTS: TCC practitioners (N=22) (52.4±6.8y; 7 men; educated years: 12.18±3.03y) and 18 healthy adults (54.8±6.8y; 8 men; education years: 11.78±2.90y) matched by age, sex, and education were enrolled. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Participants underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging scanning and cognitive test to measure the differences in functional specialization and cognitive function. Functional specialization was evaluated by voxel-mirrored homotopic connectivity (VMHC) method. RESULTS: Lower middle frontal gyrus VMHC in TCC practitioners compared to controls. For TCC practitioners, the longer they practice, the lower their VMHC in precentral and precuneus. TCC practitioners showed better cognition performance. CONCLUSIONS: Changed VMHC indicated that TCC practice could enhance functional specialization in the middle frontal cortex of practitioners, which may be associated with higher-order cognitive ability.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of long-term Tai Chi Chuan (TCC) practice on practitioners' brain functional specialization compare with the TCC novices. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. SETTING: A psychology Institute. PARTICIPANTS: TCC practitioners (N=22) (52.4±6.8y; 7 men; educated years: 12.18±3.03y) and 18 healthy adults (54.8±6.8y; 8 men; education years: 11.78±2.90y) matched by age, sex, and education were enrolled. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Participants underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging scanning and cognitive test to measure the differences in functional specialization and cognitive function. Functional specialization was evaluated by voxel-mirrored homotopic connectivity (VMHC) method. RESULTS: Lower middle frontal gyrus VMHC in TCC practitioners compared to controls. For TCC practitioners, the longer they practice, the lower their VMHC in precentral and precuneus. TCC practitioners showed better cognition performance. CONCLUSIONS: Changed VMHC indicated that TCC practice could enhance functional specialization in the middle frontal cortex of practitioners, which may be associated with higher-order cognitive ability.