{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,31]],"date-time":"2026-10-31T13:05:02Z","timestamp":1793451902601,"version":"4.5.0"},"reference-count":36,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,6,23]],"date-time":"2025-06-23T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1750636800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Aging Neurosci."],"abstract":"<jats:p>Tai Chi practice has been widely adopted to improve balance and prevent falls in older adults. However, the neural mechanisms underlying the benefits of Tai Chi are difficult to evaluate during traditional balance assessments. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effects of Tai Chi and healthy aging on corticomuscular coherence (CMC) while standing in virtual balance-demanding environments. We recorded neural, muscular, and behavioral data in an immersive virtual reality environment while implementing sensory and mechanical perturbations to introduce high postural threats. Through the acquisition of electroencephalography and electromyography signals, we examined \u03b2 and \u03b3 CMC changes in frontal, central, parietal, and occipital cortical areas and ankle plantar- and dorsi-flexors in older adults (<jats:italic>n<\/jats:italic> = 10), older adults with Tai Chi practice (<jats:italic>n<\/jats:italic> = 10), and young adults (<jats:italic>n<\/jats:italic> = 10). The results showed that older adults have higher \u03b3 CMC in comparison with Tai Chi practitioners and young adults as evaluated by the magnitude square coherence. Increased \u03b2 and \u03b3 CMC correlated with decreased mediolateral postural sway in older adults, while young adults demonstrated the opposite relationship. Furthermore, lower tibialis anterior and soleus \u03b2 CMC were found in older adults during ground conditions compared to Tai Chi practitioners and young adults. The results demonstrate the effects of aging and Tai Chi on CMC during balance-demanding standing tasks, and the potential application of the novel system to quantify cortical and muscular adaptation after rehabilitation.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3389\/fnagi.2025.1554000","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,6,23]],"date-time":"2025-06-23T05:21:33Z","timestamp":1750656093000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":5,"title":["Exploration of the effects of Tai Chi practice on lower limb corticomuscular coherence during balance-demanding virtual reality conditions in older adults"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"17","author":[{"given":"Yang","family":"Hu","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Elizabeth T.","family":"Hsiao-Wecksler","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Manuel E.","family":"Hernandez","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,6,23]]},"reference":[{"key":"B1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"405","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1532-5415.1994.tb07489.x","article-title":"Comparison of static and dynamic posturography in young and older normal people","volume":"42","author":"Baloh","year":"1994","journal-title":"J. Am. Geriatr. Soc"},{"key":"B2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1037","DOI":"10.1093\/gerona\/glv014","article-title":"Weakening of corticomuscular signal coupling during voluntary motor action in aging","volume":"70","author":"Bayram","year":"2015","journal-title":"J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci"},{"key":"B3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"309","DOI":"10.1016\/S0196-0709(82)80002-1","article-title":"Normal subject postural sway during the romberg test","volume":"3","author":"Black","year":"1982","journal-title":"Am. J. Otolaryngol"},{"key":"B4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"773091","DOI":"10.3389\/fnhum.2021.773091","article-title":"The effects of virtual height exposure on postural control and psychophysiological stress are moderated by individual height intolerance","volume":"15","author":"Bzd\u00fa\u0161kov\u00e1","year":"2022","journal-title":"Front. Hum. Neurosci"},{"key":"B5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"628","DOI":"10.1093\/med\/9780199837755.003.0044","article-title":"\u201cFrontal lobes and aging,\u201d","author":"Cabeza","year":"2013","journal-title":"Principles of Frontal Lobe Function"},{"key":"B6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"172","DOI":"10.1016\/j.gaitpost.2012.02.010","article-title":"Influence of real and virtual heights on standing balance","volume":"36","author":"Cleworth","year":"2012","journal-title":"Gait Posture"},{"key":"B7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"103","DOI":"10.1177\/0891988708328214","article-title":"The use of the modified telephone interview for cognitive status (TICS-M) in the detection of amnestic mild cognitive impairment","volume":"22","author":"Cook","year":"2009","journal-title":"J. Geriatr. Psychiatry Neurol"},{"key":"B8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"237","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-319-48980-3_16","article-title":"\u201cBalance control in older adults,\u201d","volume-title":"Locomotion and Posture in Older Adults: The Role of Aging and Movement Disorders","author":"Die\u00ebn","year":"2017"},{"key":"B9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"994","DOI":"10.1016\/j.clinph.2009.02.173","article-title":"Functional corticomuscular connection during reaching is weakened following stroke","volume":"120","author":"Fang","year":"2009","journal-title":"Clin. Neurophysiol"},{"key":"B10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"295","DOI":"10.3389\/fnagi.2014.00295","article-title":"The benefits of endurance exercise and Tai Chi chuan for the task-switching aspect of executive function in older adults: an ERP study","volume":"6","author":"Fong","year":"2014","journal-title":"Front. Aging Neurosci"},{"key":"B11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"258","DOI":"10.3389\/fnhum.2012.00258","article-title":"Beta- and gamma-range human lower limb corticomuscular coherence","volume":"6","author":"Gwin","year":"2012","journal-title":"Front. Hum. Neurosci"},{"key":"B12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"101295","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ctcp.2020.101295","article-title":"Benefits of tai ji quan practice on neuromuscular functions in older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"42","author":"Hu","year":"2021","journal-title":"Complement. Ther. Clin. Pract"},{"key":"B13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"970","DOI":"10.1152\/japplphysiol.01079.2011","article-title":"Corticomuscular coherence with and without additional task in the elderly","volume":"112","author":"Johnson","year":"2012","journal-title":"J. Appl. Physiol"},{"key":"B14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"49","DOI":"10.1007\/s11357-011-9329-y","article-title":"Changes of cortico-muscular coherence: an early marker of healthy aging?","volume":"35","author":"Kamp","year":"2013","journal-title":"Age"},{"key":"B15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"37","DOI":"10.3389\/fnhum.2016.00037","article-title":"The effects of tai chi practice on intermuscular beta coherence and the rubber hand illusion","volume":"10","author":"Kerr","year":"2016","journal-title":"Front. Hum. Neurosci."},{"key":"B16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1001\/jamanetworkopen.2018.8280","article-title":"Effectiveness of tai jiquan vs multimodal and stretching exercise interventions for reducing injurious falls in older adults at high risk of falling: follow-up analysis of a randomized clinical trial","volume":"2","author":"Li","year":"2019","journal-title":"JAMA Netw. Open"},{"key":"B17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"219","DOI":"10.2114\/jpa.22.219","article-title":"Physiological benefits of 24-style taijiquan exercise in middle-aged women","volume":"22","author":"Liu","year":"2003","journal-title":"J. Physiol. Anthropol. Appl. Human Sci"},{"key":"B18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.25772\/BT6M-8571","author":"Mcguirk","year":"2005","journal-title":"The Use of Computerized Dynamic Posturography to Assess the Balance in Individuals with Parkinson's Disease"},{"key":"B19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1016\/B978-0-12-800778-5.00001-3","article-title":"\u201cHistory of research into the acute exercise-cognition interaction: a cognitive psychology approach,\u201d","author":"McMorris","year":"2016","journal-title":"Exercise-cognition Interaction: Neuroscience Perspectives"},{"key":"B20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"28","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cmpb.2007.04.004","article-title":"Digital butterworth filter for subtracting noise from low magnitude surface electromyogram","volume":"87","author":"Mello","year":"2007","journal-title":"Comput. Methods Programs Biomed"},{"key":"B21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"501","DOI":"10.1097\/00004691-199911000-00002","article-title":"Corticomuscular coherence: a review","volume":"16","author":"Mima","year":"1999","journal-title":"J. Clin. Neurophysiol"},{"key":"B22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"629","DOI":"10.1113\/jphysiol.2010.202473","article-title":"Linear transmission of cortical oscillations to the neural drive to muscles is mediated by common projections to populations of motoneurons in humans","volume":"589","author":"Negro","year":"2011","journal-title":"J. Physiol"},{"key":"B23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1191","DOI":"10.1016\/j.neuroimage.2006.10.018","article-title":"Gamma-range corticomuscular coherence during dynamic force output","volume":"34","author":"Omlor","year":"2007","journal-title":"Neuroimage"},{"key":"B24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"110","DOI":"10.3389\/fnagi.2018.00110","article-title":"The effects of Tai Chi intervention on healthy elderly by means of neuroimaging and EEG: a systematic review","volume":"10","author":"Pan","year":"2018","journal-title":"Front. Aging Neurosci"},{"key":"B25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"402","DOI":"10.1191\/0269215500cr342oa","article-title":"What is balance?","volume":"14","author":"Pollock","year":"2000","journal-title":"Clin. Rehabil"},{"key":"B26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1479","DOI":"10.1016\/j.clinph.2018.03.019","article-title":"Impaired corticomuscular and interhemispheric cortical beta oscillation coupling in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis","volume":"129","author":"Proudfoot","year":"2018","journal-title":"Clin. Neurophysiol"},{"key":"B27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1215","DOI":"10.1016\/j.neurobiolaging.2004.09.017","article-title":"Age-related alterations in white matter microstructure measured by diffusion tensor imaging","volume":"26","author":"Salat","year":"2005","journal-title":"Neurobiol. Aging"},{"key":"B28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"867978","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyg.2022.867978","article-title":"Restoration of attention by rest in a multitasking world: theory, methodology, and empirical evidence","volume":"13","author":"Schumann","year":"2022","journal-title":"Front. Psychol"},{"key":"B29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"721","DOI":"10.1016\/j.neubiorev.2009.10.005","article-title":"Motor control and aging: links to age-related brain structural, functional, and biochemical effects","volume":"34","author":"Seidler","year":"2010","journal-title":"Neurosci. Biobehav. Rev"},{"key":"B30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"467","DOI":"10.1016\/j.neucli.2008.09.001","article-title":"Balance disorders in the elderly","volume":"38","author":"Sturnieks","year":"2008","journal-title":"Neurophysiol. Clin"},{"key":"B31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"203","DOI":"10.1016\/S0887-6177(03)00039-8","article-title":"Trail making test a and b: normative data stratified by age and education","volume":"19","author":"Tombaugh","year":"2004","journal-title":"Arch. Clin. Neuropsychol"},{"key":"B32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"213","DOI":"10.1016\/0022-510X(77)90069-7","article-title":"The numbers of limb motor neurons in the human lumbosacral cord throughout life","volume":"34","author":"Tomlinson","year":"1977","journal-title":"J. Neurol. Sci"},{"key":"B33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"85","DOI":"10.5040\/9781492597315.ch-006","article-title":"\u201cCognitive energetics and aging,\u201d","author":"Tomporowski","year":"2008","journal-title":"Exercise and Its Mediating Effects on Cognition"},{"key":"B34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"33","DOI":"10.1109\/EMBC.2016.7590633","article-title":"\u201cVirtual reality applications in assessing the effect of anxiety on sensorimotor integration in human postural control,\u201d","author":"Widdowson","year":"2016"},{"key":"B35","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"44658","DOI":"10.1038\/srep44658","article-title":"Dynamic cortical participation during bilateral, cyclical ankle movements: effects of aging","volume":"7","author":"Yoshida","year":"2017","journal-title":"Sci. Rep"},{"key":"B36","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"418","DOI":"10.1177\/1559827610368777","article-title":"Clinical implications of Tai Chi interventions: a review","volume":"4","author":"Zhu","year":"2010","journal-title":"Am. J. Lifestyle Med"}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fnagi.2025.1554000\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,6,23]],"date-time":"2025-06-23T05:21:34Z","timestamp":1750656094000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fnagi.2025.1554000\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,6,23]]},"references-count":36,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/fnagi.2025.1554000"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fnagi.2025.1554000","relation":{},"ISSN":["1663-4365"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1663-4365","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,6,23]]},"article-number":"1554000"}}