AUTHOR=Wang Chen , Dai Yuanfu , Yang Yuan , Yuan Xiaoxia , Zhang Mengjie , Zeng Jia , Zhong Xiaoke , Meng Jiao , Jiang Changhao 

TITLE=Effects of Tai Chi on working memory in older adults: evidence from combined fNIRS and ERP

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience

VOLUME=15

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/aging-neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnagi.2023.1206891

DOI=10.3389/fnagi.2023.1206891

ISSN=1663-4365

ABSTRACT=<sec><title>Objective</title><p>The study aimed to investigate the effects of a 12-week Tai Chi exercise intervention on working memory in older adults using ERP-fNIRS.</p></sec><sec><title>Method</title><p>Fifty older adults were randomly assigned to either an experimental group receiving a 12-week Tai Chi exercise intervention or a control group receiving regular daily activities. Working memory was assessed using the n-back task before and after the intervention, and spatial and temporal components of neural function underlying the n-back task were measured using ERP-fNIRS.</p></sec><sec><title>Results</title><p>The experimental group demonstrated significant improvements in reaction time and accuracy on the 2-back task and showed higher activation levels in the R-DLPFC. Additionally, the Tai Chi group displayed significant increases in P3 amplitude in the overall n-back task.</p></sec><sec><title>Conclusion</title><p>These findings suggest that Tai Chi interventions can enhance working memory in older adults, as evidenced by increasing neural activity and improving HbO in the R-DLPFC during the 2-back task.</p></sec>