Baduanjin Mind-Body Intervention Improves the Executive Control Function

Abstract

This study aims at comparing the effects of the Baduanjin mind-body (BMB) intervention with a conventional relaxation training program on enhancing the executive function. The study also attempts to explore the neural substrates underlying the cognitive effect of BMB intervention using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) technique. Forty-two healthy college students were randomly allocated into either the Baduanjin intervention group or relaxation training (control) group. Training lasted for 8 weeks (90 min/day, 5 days/week). Each participant was administered the shortened Profile of Mood States to evaluate their mood status and the flanker task to evaluate executive function before and after training. While performing the flanker task, the NIRS data were collected from each participant. After training, individuals who have participated in BMB exercise showed a significant reduction in depressive mood compared with the same measure before the intervention. However, participants in the control group showed no such reduction. The before vs. after measurement difference in the flanker task incongruent trails was significant only for the Baduanjin intervention group. Interestingly, an increase in oxygenated hemoglobin in the left prefrontal cortex was observed during the Incongruent Trails test only after the BMB exercise intervention. These findings implicate that Baduanjin is an effective and easy-to-administering mind-body exercise for improving executive function and perhaps brain self-regulation in a young and healthy population.

Looking East for Mindfulness: A Glimpse of Practices and Research on Shaolin Martial Arts and Related Practices to Advance Sport Psychology

“…They also gathered evidence of significantly raised plasma adiponectin levels associated with the Baduanjin practices, which serves to corroborate with the reduced depression symptoms. Such a reduction in depressive mood was also reported in another eight-week intervention study on healthy college students conducted by Chen, Yue, Tian, and Jiang (2016) [82]; in addition, these researchers demonstrated that Baduanjin could help improve executive function. Similarly, Li et al (2015) [79] also provided some evidence to show that 12-week Baduanjin exercise training (as compared with usual exercises) leads to improved attention, in addition to a couple of physical benefits such as lower limb proprioception, enhanced cardiorespiratory endurance, flexibility, and explosive force of lower limbs.…”

Differential Effects of Tai Chi Chuan (Motor-Cognitive Training) and Walking on Brain Networks: A Resting-State fMRI Study in Chinese Women Aged 60

“…Pieramico et al pointed out that multi-modal exercise can be an effective strategy to prevent aging-related cognitive loss, and significant capability of functional and structural changes were maintained in older adults [45]. Other studies have shown that regular physical training may contribute to changes in brain structure [46], brain function [47,48], and alleviate age-related cognitive decline [49]. In the majority of exercise cognition imaging studies, researchers have focused on short-term effects rather than prolonged cognitive benefits of exercise, particularly for motor-cognitive exercise training such as tai chi chuan that is culturally suitable for Chinese populations.…”

Intervención en Funciones Ejecutivas en Educación Infantil

“…Sin embargo, aunque los programas destinados a la mejora de las funciones ejecutivas en la primera infancia muestran resultados muy positivos, la mayoría de los estudios se centran en niños en edad escolar o universitarios (por ejemplo, Chen, Yue, Tian, y Jiang, 2016;Dias y Seabra, 2016). A pesar del potencial efecto preventivo de la intervención temprana, hasta el momento, sólo un núme-ro limitado de estudios han investigado el efecto de la intervención de las funciones ejecutivas en niños en edad preescolar (3-5 años) (Di Lieto et al, 2017;Sonuga-Barke y Halperin, 2011).…”