Yoga Research: Effects on Brain Structure and Function

**Lesson Overview** 
This lesson summarizes research on yoga’s effects on brain structure and
function.

**Objective** 
Prepare to reference studies detailing the impact of yoga on cognitive
abilities.

**Description** 
Cite the following research findings: a 2012 study that demonstrated
improved reaction time, accuracy, and memory in participants after yoga; a
2014 study showing cognitive improvements in an older demographic; and a 2019
study indicating enhanced cognitive function and memory in young adults.

The 2012 study involved 30 undergraduate women who engaged in a 20-minute
yoga session, which included postures, deep breathing, and meditation,
leading to significant improvements in cognitive tests. In contrast, aerobic
exercise produced no substantial enhancements. The 2014 study focused on
sedentary older adults who practiced Hatha yoga three times weekly for eight
weeks, yielding improved cognitive task performance. In the 2019 study, 19
young men showed improvements in cognitive function and mood following a
low-intensity yoga session, significantly correlating increased vigor with
enhanced cognitive performance.

Research also explores brain structure and activity changes linked to yoga.
A 2019 review of 11 studies indicated that regular yoga practice benefits
areas responsible for decision-making, emotion regulation, and memory.
Additionally, findings revealed hippocampal volume increases among
practitioners, critical as this area is associated with memory processing and
is notably affected by age and dementia.

**Brain Structure & Activity** 

A 2007 study noted elevated GABA levels, suggesting yoga might assist
individuals with disorders linked to low GABA. In 2015, a comparative study
of meditators and non-meditators found that long-term practice preserved gray
matter volume, diminishing the risk of mental decline. Research from 2018
indicated yoga increased gray matter volume in the hippocampus and activated
the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex.

Moreover, one 2017 study found thicker prefrontal cortices in long-term
female yogis, suggesting that regular yoga could protect against cognitive
decline due to aging. Another relevant study from 2018 analyzed over 15,000
individuals, revealing that those who practiced yoga or meditation tended to
have smaller volumes in negative emotion-related brain regions, contributing
to reduced stress coping issues.

Further research highlights meditation’s ability to induce various brain
and immune function changes within controlled environments, underscoring
structural differences resulting from distinct meditation techniques.
Evidence from Ashtanga yoga practice noted shifts in brain activity,
including regions tied to memory and emotion processing.

Compassion meditation has also been shown to influence empathetic neural
circuits, highlighting the emotional training’s role in increasing altruism
through measurable brain activity changes.

In conclusion, existing research consistently demonstrates that yoga can
enhance cognitive function while also promoting structural changes beneficial
for mental health. For further details on the impact of yoga on brain
structure and function, visit [Ashtanga Tech’s Yoga Research page](https://ashtanga.tech/study-guide/research-inspiration/research-on-the-impact-of-yoga/yoga-research-brain-structure-function/).