ABSTRACT
T’ai Chi has become increasingly popular as an activity, involving gentle movements and relaxation. Nowadays it is widely accepted that martial arts improve physical, cognitive, and psychological health, contributing to general well-being. This chapter examines recent findings related to the effects of T’ai Chi on the cognition and brain functions of older adults. It provides a discussion on the eye-hand coordination, visuospatial abilities, and visual asymmetries. The brain adapts to changes demanded by the environment, permitting learning throughout life despite cognitive slowing, even at a very old age. The chapter summarizes the main results of recent neuroimaging studies investigating the effects of T’ai Chi on the brain. In a research study, the T’ai Chi and endurance exercise groups outperformed the older sedentary adults; the latter had longer reaction times on the behavioural task and lower P3 amplitude.
