Prefrontal Hemodynamics Underlie the Synergistic Effect of Tai Chi Combined with Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Memory in Patients with MCI: An Exploratory fNIRS Study

IF 4.4 1区心理学 Q1 PSYCHOLOGY, CLINICAL

International Journal of Clinical and Health Psychology Pub Date : 2026-04-01 Epub Date: 2026-07-21 DOI:10.1016/j.ijchp.2026.100709

Li Liufu, Mengyuan Wu, Peiling Zeng, Yuping Yang, Cong Chen, Jia Huang, Shufang Lin, Hong Liu, Ying Xu

{"title":"Prefrontal Hemodynamics Underlie the Synergistic Effect of Tai Chi Combined with Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Memory in Patients with MCI: An Exploratory fNIRS Study","authors":"Li Liufu, Mengyuan Wu, Peiling Zeng, Yuping Yang, Cong Chen, Jia Huang, Shufang Lin, Hong Liu, Ying Xu","doi":"10.1016/j.ijchp.2026.100709","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>Memory dysfunction is a major concern in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and is closely associated with changes in prefrontal cortex (PFC) hemodynamics. Tai Chi (TC) combined with transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been shown to improve MCI-related memory deficits, but the underlying neural mechanisms remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate which hemodynamic changes are attributable to the individual effects of TC or tDCS, and which alterations arise from their synergistic interaction.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>In this randomized clinical trial, 128 patients with MCI were assigned to one of four groups: TC combined with tDCS, TC alone, tDCS alone, or health education. Outcome measures included memory scale scores and prefrontal hemodynamic activity assessed using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), measured at baseline and after 12 weeks.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The combined TC and tDCS intervention produced a significant synergistic interaction effect on verbal memory (<em>P</em> = 0.032), as well as on changes in oxyhemoglobin (HbO<sub>2</sub>) concentrations across multiple prefrontal regions. These included the right orbitofrontal cortex during resting state (<em>P</em> = 0.026); the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) during the 0-back (<em>P</em> = 0.012), 1-back (<em>P</em> < 0.001), and 2-back tasks (<em>P</em> = 0.003); the left frontopolar cortex during the 0-back (<em>P</em> = 0.003), 1-back (<em>P</em> = 0.008), and 2-back tasks (<em>P</em> = 0.020); the right frontopolar cortex during the 1-back task (<em>P</em> = 0.017); and the left ventrolateral prefrontal cortex during the 1-back task (<em>P</em> = 0.041). Correlation analysis revealed a positive association between changes in HbO<sub>2</sub> concentrations in the left DLPFC during the 1-back task and verbal memory performance.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>TC combined with tDCS may synergistically enhance verbal memory in patients with MCI through modulation of HbO<sub>2</sub> concentrations in the left DLPFC.</div></div><div><h3>Trial registration</h3><div>ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: ChiCTR2200059316</div></div>","PeriodicalId":47673,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Clinical and Health Psychology","volume":"26 2","pages":"Article 100709"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4000,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13393590/pdf/","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"International Journal of Clinical and Health Psychology","FirstCategoryId":"102","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1697260026000451","RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2026/7/21 0:00:00","PubModel":"Epub","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"PSYCHOLOGY, CLINICAL","Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Abstract

Objective

Memory dysfunction is a major concern in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and is closely associated with changes in prefrontal cortex (PFC) hemodynamics. Tai Chi (TC) combined with transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been shown to improve MCI-related memory deficits, but the underlying neural mechanisms remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate which hemodynamic changes are attributable to the individual effects of TC or tDCS, and which alterations arise from their synergistic interaction.

Methods

In this randomized clinical trial, 128 patients with MCI were assigned to one of four groups: TC combined with tDCS, TC alone, tDCS alone, or health education. Outcome measures included memory scale scores and prefrontal hemodynamic activity assessed using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), measured at baseline and after 12 weeks.

Results

The combined TC and tDCS intervention produced a significant synergistic interaction effect on verbal memory (P = 0.032), as well as on changes in oxyhemoglobin (HbO₂) concentrations across multiple prefrontal regions. These included the right orbitofrontal cortex during resting state (P = 0.026); the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) during the 0-back (P = 0.012), 1-back (P < 0.001), and 2-back tasks (P = 0.003); the left frontopolar cortex during the 0-back (P = 0.003), 1-back (P = 0.008), and 2-back tasks (P = 0.020); the right frontopolar cortex during the 1-back task (P = 0.017); and the left ventrolateral prefrontal cortex during the 1-back task (P = 0.041). Correlation analysis revealed a positive association between changes in HbO₂ concentrations in the left DLPFC during the 1-back task and verbal memory performance.

Conclusions

TC combined with tDCS may synergistically enhance verbal memory in patients with MCI through modulation of HbO₂ concentrations in the left DLPFC.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: ChiCTR2200059316

查看原文本刊更多论文

太极拳联合经颅直流电刺激对轻度认知损伤患者记忆的协同作用：一项探索性fNIRS研究。

目的：记忆功能障碍是轻度认知障碍（MCI）患者关注的主要问题，与前额叶皮质（PFC）血流动力学变化密切相关。太极（TC）联合经颅直流电刺激（tDCS）已被证明可以改善mci相关的记忆缺陷，但潜在的神经机制尚不清楚。本研究旨在探讨哪些血流动力学变化可归因于TC或tDCS的个体作用，哪些变化是由它们的协同相互作用引起的。方法：在这项随机临床试验中，128名MCI患者被分为四组：TC联合tDCS、TC单独、tDCS单独或健康教育。结果测量包括记忆量表评分和前额叶血流动力学活动，使用功能性近红外光谱（fNIRS）评估，在基线和12周后测量。结果：TC和tDCS联合干预对言语记忆产生了显著的协同作用（P = 0.032），并对多个前额叶区域的血红蛋白（HbO2）浓度变化产生了显著的影响。其中包括静息状态下的右眶额皮质（P = 0.026）；在0-back （P = 0.012）、1-back （P < 0.001）和2-back任务（P = 0.003）时左背外侧前额叶皮质（DLPFC）；在0-back （P = 0.003）、1-back （P = 0.008）和2-back任务（P = 0.020）时左额极皮层；右额极皮层在1-back任务期间（P = 0.017）；和左腹外侧前额叶皮层（P = 0.041）。相关分析显示，1-back任务时左DLPFC HbO2浓度的变化与言语记忆表现呈正相关。结论：TC联合tDCS可能通过调节左DLPFC的HbO2浓度协同增强MCI患者的言语记忆。试验注册：ClinicalTrials.gov标识符：ChiCTR2200059316。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

求助全文

约1分钟内获得全文求助全文

来源期刊

International Journal of Clinical and Health Psychology PSYCHOLOGY, CLINICAL-

CiteScore

10.70

自引率

5.70%

发文量

审稿时长

33 days

期刊介绍： The International Journal of Clinical and Health Psychology is dedicated to publishing manuscripts with a strong emphasis on both basic and applied research, encompassing experimental, clinical, and theoretical contributions that advance the fields of Clinical and Health Psychology. With a focus on four core domains—clinical psychology and psychotherapy, psychopathology, health psychology, and clinical neurosciences—the IJCHP seeks to provide a comprehensive platform for scholarly discourse and innovation. The journal accepts Original Articles (empirical studies) and Review Articles. Manuscripts submitted to IJCHP should be original and not previously published or under consideration elsewhere. All signing authors must unanimously agree on the submitted version of the manuscript. By submitting their work, authors agree to transfer their copyrights to the Journal for the duration of the editorial process.