EFFECTS OF TAI CHI EXERCISE ON THE HEALTHY ELDERLY AS MEASURED BY EVENT-RELATED POTENTIALS

Abstract

Aim: Tai Chi exercise could be recommended as a mental training method to ameliorate cognitive function, especially attention function. Event-related potentials(ERPs) are commonly used as physiological measures of cognitive function as they are easily measured and nor-invasive. However, to our knowledge, there is no report to indicate Tai Chi's effect on cognitive function using ERPs. Therefore, in the present study we examined the effects of Tai Chi exercise on the healthy elderly as measured by ERPs. Methods: Eight healthy elderly subjects participated after giving consent. Based on the guidelines for evoked potential measurement, mismatch negativity(MMN) and P300 were obtained by auditory odd-ball tasks. We measured both MMN and P300 in the conditions before and after the Tai Chi term. Results: The MMN amplitudes after the Tai Chi term tend to be greater than those before the Tai Chi term at Fz and Cz. The P300 latency after the Tai Chi term was significantly shorter than that before the Tai Chi term at Pz. Conclusion: MMN and P300 might be sensitive tools for measuring the effects of Tai Chi exercise on the healthy elderly.