Immediate effect of mukha bhastrika (a bellows type pranayama) on reaction time in mentally challenged adolescents.
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Date
2012-04
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Abstract
Mentally challenged individuals are known to have slower
speed of reaction. As a previous study has shown immediate improvement
in reaction time (RT) following mukha bhastrika, a bellows type of
pranayama, we planned to study the effect of this pranayama in mentally
challenged adolescents. 34 mentally challenged adolescents (15.1±0.806 y)
studying in a school for Special Needs were recruited as they have been
receiving yoga training once a week for more than 3 years. Exclusion
criteria were inability to either perform mukha bhastrika or to understand
procedure for testing RT. Visual (VRT) and auditory reaction time (ART)
was measured using RT apparatus before and after nine rounds of mukha
bhastrika and a control period of ten minutes of normal activities to rule
out any test-retest practice effect. Analysis of non-intervention period
values showed that the reliability in terms of reproducibility of the
observation for both VRT (r=0.87) and ART (r=0.95) was excellent. Mukha
bhastrika produced an immediate and significant decrease in both VRT and
ART. There was a statistically significant decrease in VRT (P<0.0001) from
296.15 ms±13.49 to 263.59 ms±12.53 and ART (P<0.0001) from
247.88 ms±14.33 to 217.35 ms±11.36 following mukha bhastrika. Decrease
in RT signifies improved central neuronal processing ability. This may be
due to greater arousal and faster rate of information processing, improved
concentration and/or ability to ignore or inhibit extraneous stimuli. Mukha
bhastrika may be altering afferent inputs from abdominal and thoracic
regions, in turn modulating activity at ascending reticular activating system
and thalamo-cortical levels. It is suggested that yogic breathing techniques
like mukha bhastrika be used as an effective means of improving neuromuscular
abilities in special children.
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Keywords
reaction time, mukha bhastrika, mental retardation, central processing
Citation
Bhavanani Ananda Balayogi, Ramanathan Meena, Harichandrakumar K T. Immediate effect of mukha bhastrika (a bellows type pranayama) on reaction time in mentally challenged adolescents. Indian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology. 2012 Apr-Jun; 56(2): 174-180.