# Street dancing enhances cognitive reserve in young females: an fNIRS study

## TL;DR

An 18-week street dance program improved cognitive function in young women, as measured by brain activity and task performance.

## Contribution

This study provides new evidence that street dance enhances prefrontal cortex activation and executive function in young females.

## Key findings

- Street dance increased oxygenated hemoglobin in the prefrontal cortex during cognitive tasks.
- Participants showed improved accuracy and faster reaction times in working memory and inhibitory control tasks.
- Cognitive flexibility improved with increased activation in the left inferior frontal gyrus.

## Abstract

With the accelerating aging population, cognitive decline and dementia pose major public health challenges. Early intervention is crucial for mitigating these risks. Dance, with its high cognitive demands and multitasking coordination, has shown benefits for cognitive function. However, evidence on the effects of street dance on prefrontal cortex activation and executive function is limited. This study uses functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to explore how street dance impacts prefrontal activation and executive function, offering insights into early prevention of cognitive decline.

A total of 28 healthy female college students were recruited and randomly assigned to a street dance intervention group (n = 14) or a control group (n = 14). The study was conducted between March and September 2024 at a university in Southwest China. The intervention group participated in an 18-week street dance program, three times per week, with each session lasting 80 min. The control group maintained their usual routines without structured physical activity. fNIRS was used pre- and post-intervention to assess changes in oxygenated hemoglobin (HbO₂) levels in the prefrontal cortex during the 2-back, Stroop, and More-Odd Shifting tasks.

Two-way repeated-measures ANOVA revealed significant Group × Time interaction effects in multiple prefrontal regions across the three tasks. In the 2-back task, the street dance group showed significant increases in HbO₂ in the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, accompanied by improvements in accuracy and faster reaction times. In the Stroop task, HbO₂ significantly increased in the right frontopolar and dorsolateral prefrontal cortices, reflecting enhanced inhibitory control. In the More-Odd Shifting task, significant activation was observed in the left inferior frontal gyrus, together with improved task-switching accuracy and reduced reaction times.

The 18-week street dance intervention effectively improved working memory, inhibitory control, and cognitive flexibility, contributing to enhanced cognitive reserve. As a physical activity combining rhythm and coordination, street dance offers a promising early intervention strategy for delaying cognitive decline and reducing dementia risk.

https://www.chictr.org.cn/, identifier ChiCTR2400083689.