The effects of Tai Chi on executive function and neurophysiological outcomes in college students: a systematic review and meta-analysis

College students face substantial cognitive demands, motivating scalable non-pharmacological approaches to support executive function. Tai Chi combines low-to-moderate physical activity, motor-sequence learning, postural control, breathing regulation, and sustained attention, but evidence in young adults remains uncertain.

To evaluate the effects of Tai Chi on objective executive-function outcomes and to summarize associated neurophysiological findings in university students.

Following PRISMA 2020, PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science Core Collection, Scopus, and CNKI were searched from inception to 15 April 2026, with an English-language restriction. Eligible studies evaluated structured Tai Chi against a concurrent comparator and reported objective executive-function and/or prespecified neurophysiological outcomes. Two reviewers screened records, extracted data, and assessed randomized trials using RoB 2. Certainty was evaluated using GRADE. Hedges' g was pooled using DerSimonian-Laird random-effects models; REML and Hartung-Knapp analyses assessed robustness. The present review was not prospectively registered; PROSPERO CRD420261480624 concerns a future update.

Seven randomized trials were eligible (n = 425), and four comparisons entered the primary selected-task meta-analysis (n = 248). The pooled estimate favored Tai Chi (g = 1.05, 95% CI 0.23-1.87; i ² = 89.0%) but was dominated by one task-congruent working-memory trial and was not robust under Hartung-Knapp inference (95% CI - 0.56 to 2.67; p = 0.130). Inhibitory-control performance improved across three trials (n = 193; g = 0.57, 95% CI 0.28-0.85; i ² = 0%), although certainty was low. Working memory effects were nonsignificant for the primary selected metric (g = 1.00, 95% CI - 0.37 to 2.37) and correct responses/accuracy (g = 0.79, 95% CI - 0.19 to 1.77). Cognitive flexibility was represented by one trial (g = 0.29, 95% CI - 0.20 to 0.77). Neurophysiological findings were exploratory. No study reported objective academic outcomes.

Tai Chi may improve short-term inhibitory-control performance in college students, but evidence for broader executive-function benefits is insufficient. Larger preregistered trials using active comparators, task-neutral measures, longer follow-up, and objective academic outcomes are required.