This study aimed to investigate the dual-pathway mechanisms underlying cognitive-emotional integration in older adults through a 12-week randomized controlled trial. Specifically, it explored how groove music-integrated Tai Chi (GOTC) modulates cognitive and emotional processes compared to conventional music-based Tai Chi (COTC) and a control group (CON), using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) and surface electromyography (sEMG) to assess prefrontal connectivity and neuromuscular dynamics. A total of 75 older adults (aged 60–75 years) were randomly assigned to three groups: GOTC (n = 25), COTC (n = 26), and CON (n = 24). The intervention groups participated in a 12-week Tai Chi program, while the control group maintained their usual activities. Cognitive-emotional integration was evaluated using behavioral assessments (BRIEF, Stroop test) and neurophysiological measures (fNIRS for prefrontal connectivity, sEMG for neuromuscular dynamics). Neuromuscular coherence (COH) analysis was performed to examine β- and γ-band synchronization during specific motor tasks. The GOTC group demonstrated superior emotional regulation for low-intensity stimuli compared to COTC (P = 0.04) and CON (P < 0.001), with no differences observed under high-intensity conditions. Cognitive improvements were most significant in GOTC, as evidenced by reduced BRIEF scores for working memory (vs. COTC: P = 0.01; vs. CON: P < 0.001) and planning (vs. COTC: P = 0.02). The Stroop test revealed GOTC’s advantage in word interference reduction (P = 0.03 vs. CON). Neuromuscular COH analysis showed enhanced β- and γ-band synchronization in GOTC during lateral sliding (vs. COTC: P = 0.01; vs. CON: P < 0.001) and rotational tasks (γ-band: P = 0.01 vs. COTC; P < 0.001 vs. CON). fNIRS data indicated strengthened post-intervention functional connectivity between medial and left prefrontal cortices (mPFC-lPFC) in GOTC (vs. COTC: PFDR < 0.03; vs. CON: PFDR < 0.02), which correlated with γ-band COH during lateral sliding (r = 0.234, P = 0.03). The findings support a dual-pathway mechanism where groove music enhances neuromuscular coordination (β/γ-band COH) and prefrontal integration (mPFC-lPFC connectivity), synergistically improving cognitive-emotional integration in older adults. These results advance embodied cognition theory by linking rhythmic-motor entrainment to neurofunctional plasticity in aging populations. Trial registration: Our participants are not involved in a clinical trial, nor are they involved in any patients, so this study was not clinically registered at the beginning, but we have been retrospectively registered and are currently under review, and we are registered on the Chinese Clinical Registry, registration no. PID: 268427. We uploaded the retrospectively registered file, and this study is fully ethical. The study was approved by the ethics committee, and informed consent was obtained from all participants.

Dual-channel mechanism of groove music fused with Tai Chi to improve cognitive-emotional abilities in older adults based on a coupled fNIRS-EMG analysis: a randomized controlled study

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发表日期：

2025年7月28日

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Haojie Li,
Xinyu Lin,
Xie Wu

摘要

This study aimed to investigate the dual-pathway mechanisms underlying cognitive-emotional integration in older adults through a 12-week randomized controlled trial. Specifically, it explored how groove music-integrated Tai Chi (GOTC) modulates cognitive and emotional processes compared to conventional music-based Tai Chi (COTC) and a control group (CON), using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) and surface electromyography (sEMG) to assess prefrontal connectivity and neuromuscular dynamics. A total of 75 older adults (aged 60–75 years) were randomly assigned to three groups: GOTC (n = 25), COTC (n = 26), and CON (n = 24). The intervention groups participated in a 12-week Tai Chi program, while the control group maintained their usual activities. Cognitive-emotional integration was evaluated using behavioral assessments (BRIEF, Stroop test) and neurophysiological measures (fNIRS for prefrontal connectivity, sEMG for neuromuscular dynamics). Neuromuscular coherence (COH) analysis was performed to examine β- and γ-band synchronization during specific motor tasks. The GOTC group demonstrated superior emotional regulation for low-intensity stimuli compared to COTC (P = 0.04) and CON (P < 0.001), with no differences observed under high-intensity conditions. Cognitive improvements were most significant in GOTC, as evidenced by reduced BRIEF scores for working memory (vs. COTC: P = 0.01; vs. CON: P < 0.001) and planning (vs. COTC: P = 0.02). The Stroop test revealed GOTC’s advantage in word interference reduction (P = 0.03 vs. CON). Neuromuscular COH analysis showed enhanced β- and γ-band synchronization in GOTC during lateral sliding (vs. COTC: P = 0.01; vs. CON: P < 0.001) and rotational tasks (γ-band: P = 0.01 vs. COTC; P < 0.001 vs. CON). fNIRS data indicated strengthened post-intervention functional connectivity between medial and left prefrontal cortices (mPFC-lPFC) in GOTC (vs. COTC: PFDR < 0.03; vs. CON: PFDR < 0.02), which correlated with γ-band COH during lateral sliding (r = 0.234, P = 0.03). The findings support a dual-pathway mechanism where groove music enhances neuromuscular coordination (β/γ-band COH) and prefrontal integration (mPFC-lPFC connectivity), synergistically improving cognitive-emotional integration in older adults. These results advance embodied cognition theory by linking rhythmic-motor entrainment to neurofunctional plasticity in aging populations. Trial registration: Our participants are not involved in a clinical trial, nor are they involved in any patients, so this study was not clinically registered at the beginning, but we have been retrospectively registered and are currently under review, and we are registered on the Chinese Clinical Registry, registration no. PID: 268427. We uploaded the retrospectively registered file, and this study is fully ethical. The study was approved by the ethics committee, and informed consent was obtained from all participants.