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Tai Chi Improves the Task-switching Function in Older Adults
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November 15, 2014 -
A study published in the October 2014
issue of
Frontiers in aging neuroscience
was designed to determine the relationship between physical activity and the
task-switching aspect of executive function by investigating the modulating
roles of age, modality of physical activity, and type of cognitive function
using behavioral and event-related potential assessments.
Sixty-four participants were assigned to one of four groups based
on age and history of physical activity: older adults performing endurance
exercise, older adults practicing Tai Chi,
older adults with a sedentary lifestyle, and young adults.
Study participants completed a task-switching task under
homogeneous and heterogeneous conditions while event-related potentials were
recorded. The results revealed that the young adults group had shortest reaction
times compared with the three older adults groups, with the sedentary group
exhibiting the longest reaction time. The young adults group also exhibited
shorter P3 latency than the sedentary group. No differences were observed in P3
amplitude between the young adults group, older adults performing endurance
exercise, and older adults practicing Tai Chi;
however, all three groups had significantly larger P3 amplitude in both task
conditions compared with older adults with a sedentary lifestyle.
In conclusion, age and participation in
physical activity influence the relationship between physical activity and
task-switching, and a positive relationship was observed regardless of the
modality of physical activity and type of cognitive function. The Event-related
Potential findings suggest that regular participation in endurance exercise and Tai Chi may have equivalent beneficial effects
on cognition at the behavioral and neuroelectric levels.
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