Tai Chi and meditation-plus-exercise benefit neural substrates of executive function: a cross-sectional, controlled study
-
Teresa D. Hawkes
,
Wayne Manselle
Abstract
Background: We report the first controlled study of Tai Chi effects on the P300 event-related potential, a neuroelectric index of human executive function. Tai Chi is a form of exercise and moving meditation. Exercise and meditation have been associated with enhanced executive function. This cross-sectional, controlled study utilized the P300 event-related potential (ERP) to compare executive network neural function between self-selected long-term Tai Chi, meditation, aerobic fitness, and sedentary groups. We hypothesized that because Tai Chi requires moderate aerobic and mental exertion, this group would show similar or better executive neural function compared to meditation and aerobic exercise groups. We predicted all health training groups would outperform sedentary controls.
Methods: Fifty-four volunteers (Tai Chi, n=10; meditation, n=16; aerobic exercise, n=16; sedentary, n=12) were tested with the Rockport 1-mile walk (estimated VO2 Max), a well-validated measure of aerobic capacity, and an ecologically valid visuo-spatial, randomized, alternating runs Task Switch test during dense-array electroencephalographic (EEG) recording.
Results: Only Tai Chi and meditation plus exercise groups demonstrated larger P3b ERP switch trial amplitudes compared to sedentary controls.
Conclusions: Our results suggest long-term Tai Chi practice, and meditation plus exercise may benefit the neural substrates of executive function.
Author contributions: All the authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this submitted manuscript and approved submission.
Research funding: This work supported by a Francisco J. Varela Research Award, Mind & Life Institute, 2007, and an NIH T-32 Systems Training Grant Appointment (Grant # T32-GM07257), Institute of Neuroscience, University of Oregon, 2008.
Employment or leadership: None declared.
Honorarium: None declared.
Competing interests: The funding organization(s) played no role in the study design; in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data; in the writing of the report; or in the decision to submit the report for publication.
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©2014 by De Gruyter
Articles in the same Issue
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Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Review
- Phytodentistry: use of medicinal plants
- Preclinical Studies
- The effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Cannabis Sativa on appetite hormone in rat
- Hypolipidaemic and haematological evaluation of the hydromethanolic extract of Ficus glumosa stem bark in alloxan-induced diabetic rats
- A study to investigate the biological activity of proteoglycan mixture extract from Convolvulus arvensis
- Some biochemical and haematological changes in rats pretreated with aqueous stem bark extract of Lophira lanceolata and intoxicated with paracetamol (acetaminophen)
- Clinical Studies
- Tai Chi and meditation-plus-exercise benefit neural substrates of executive function: a cross-sectional, controlled study
- A preliminary comparison of primary care use by refugees before and after acupuncture
- Practices and attitudes toward complementary and alternative medicine in inflammatory bowel disease: a survey of gastroenterologists
