1. Yoga and Cognition: Evidence from acute and intervention studies
Neha P. Gothe, MA, MS, PhD
Wayne State University, Detroit - MI

2. Exercise and Cognitive Performance
Relationship is a highly topical area of scientific inquiry
Majority of this work examines the effects of chronic exercise participation on cognition – long term effects or intervention effects
Increasing interest in the potential transient effects of acute bouts of exercise – short single bout of exercise
Regular participation in physical activity has a variety of mental health benefits
Overall effect size of exercise has a small positive effect on cognition (Etnier et al. 1997)
Fitness training has robust but selective benefits for cognition - largest fitness-induced benefits for executive control processes (Colcombe & Kramer, 2003)

3. Limitations of PA-Cognition literature
Major focus – aerobic modes of activity
Greatest benefit of aerobic exercise on cognition occurred when paired with resistance training (Colcombe & Kramer, 2003; Smith et al. 2010)
Plausible biological mechanisms whereby resistance training might ameliorate cognitive function independently of aerobic exercise
Little is known about the PA based complementary and alternative therapies such as yoga = combination of resistance exercise + breathing + meditation

4. Yoga and Cognition Studies
Acute Effects of Yoga
Oken RCTs
6 months, only 1 weekly session of 90 minutes
Also had a walking group – showed no effect on cognitive outcomes eithers.
Participants were active to begin with (older adult study)
In the MS study, no cognitive changes – maybe indicative of maintenance – which is good for MS like disease

5. Yoga postures, breathing, meditative exercises
Acute Yoga Effects
Research Question
Is task performance on the cognitive measures enhanced by acute (short single bout) of both yoga and aerobic exercise sessions?
Female college students (n=30, Mage=20.07)
3 visits counterbalanced, at least a day apart
Baseline
Cognitive Tests
85% submax fitness test
Aerobic
20 minutes
60-70%max on treadmill
Yoga
Yoga postures, breathing, meditative exercises
Before embarking on the dissertation project, wanted to test the efficacy of yoga in improving cognition, looking for a trend
Gothe, N., Pontifex, M.B., Hillman, C.H. & McAuley, E. (2013). The effect of acute yoga on executive function. Journal of Physical Activity and Health. PMID:

6. Acute Yoga Study: Cognitive Tests
Flanker Task (inhibitory control)
N back – 0, 1 and 2 back (working memory)

7. Results Flanker Task N-back Task Higher AC Faster RT Higher AC
No differences on the congruent trials
Yoga accuracy was significantly better than aerobic and baseline
Nback:
Faster RT after yoga for 1-back, 2-back
Higher accuracy after yoga for all 3 n-back conditions
If a single 20 minute bout of yoga works, will long term yoga practice improve cognition?

8. Yoga and Cognition Studies
Intervention Effects of Yoga
Oken RCTs
6 months, only 1 weekly session of 90 minutes
Also had a walking group – showed no effect on cognitive outcomes eithers.
Participants were active to begin with (older adult study)
In the MS study, no cognitive changes – maybe indicative of maintenance – which is good for MS like disease

9. Research Question
Does an 8 week yoga intervention improve cognitive performance when compared to a stretching control group?
We investigated the effects on cognition (executive functions, attention and processing speed) in sample of healthy sedentary older adults

10. Stretching And Yoga Exercise Study
Sedentary community dwelling older adults
Ages 55 – 80
N=118, Mean age = 62.05
8-week randomized controlled trial
Yoga intervention
Stretching control
Structured group exercise sessions 3x/wk, ~60min/session
Primary Outcomes: Cognition and Functional Fitness

11. Participants N=118 Sedentary older adults 55-79 years old
Mean age (±5.6)
Females 78%
Married 62%
College graduate ≥ 66%
Income 40,000 ≥75.8%
Working full time 54%
Hispanic/Latino 3.39%
Caucasian 81.35%
African American 10.16%
Asian 3.4%
American Indian or Alaskan Native 1.7%
More than one race 3.4%

12. Yoga Intervention Group n=61, Meanattendance 80.82%
Yoga postures, breathing and meditative exercises
Equipment: yoga mats, yoga blocks, yoga belts, blankets

15. Stretching Control Group n=57, Meanattendance 81.29%
Stretching and strengthening exercises for all muscle groups
Equipment: resistance bands, balance disks, mats, chairs
Met CDC anaerobic guidelines

17. Measures Task Switching Running Span N-back Reaction time Accuracy
Recall scores
N-back
1-back
2-back 7 2 T N N P B P Y P H M

18. Task Switching
Blue background: If number is less than 5 say low, if greater than 5 say high 2

19. 6

20. 1

21. 3

22. 8

23. Task Switching
Yellow background: Say odd or even 2

24. 6

25. 1

26. 3

27. When blue: decide high or low When yellow: decide odd or even
Task Switching
When blue: decide high or low When yellow: decide odd or even

28. 2

29. 7

30. 2

31. 8

32. 6

33. 3

34. 1

35. 7

36. 9

37. 4

38. Did yoga improve cognition? Results:
Yoga intervention group significantly improved performance on the executive function measures of working memory capacity and efficiency of mental set shifting and flexibility
Gothe, N. P., Kramer, A. F., & McAuley, E. (2014). The effects of an 8-week Hatha yoga intervention on executive function in older adults. The Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences, 69(9),

39. Hypothesized Mechanisms?
Yoga
Structural/ Physiological
Spiritual
Psychosocial
Enhanced functioning
Structural + Physiological - Musculoskeletal functioning ..Cardiopulmonary status .. ANS response .. Endocrine control system
Spiritual . Compassionate, Mindfulness,
Psychosocial • Self-efficacy Positive Mood Coping Social support
Enhanced Functioning Energy & sleep Quality of Life Strength & fitness Reduced pain, stress & disability

40. Conclusions
“Mind-body” therapies may have unique mechanisms and cognitive benefits over traditional exercise
Yoga-cognition research is in nascent stages, need to thoroughly examine health benefits from a biopsychosocial perspective
Need for studies to test yoga with established, scientifically proven therapies of exercise

41. “I felt a connection – love and warmth toward the group
“I felt a connection – love and warmth toward the group. That was very interesting and unexpected”
Breathe !