Effect of combined yoga and transcranial direct current stimulation intervention on working memory and mindfulness.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine whether combining transcranial direct stimulation with yoga would enhance working memory performance and mindfulness levels compared to sham stimulation.
Results Summary
Active transcranial direct stimulation did not significantly improve working memory or mindfulness compared to sham stimulation. A placebo effect was observed, with better performance on the first intervention day regardless of stimulation type.
Population
22 healthy volunteers with regular yoga practice (20 completed the study).
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Two separate intervention days (cross-over design).
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
transcranial direct stimulation | increase | cognition | - | - | positively affect | #1 |
yoga | increase | cognition | - | - | positively affect | #2 |
combined transcranial direct stimulation and meditation | increase | mood and cognition | - | - | may have synergistic effects | #3 |
active transcranial direct stimulation | no change | working memory | healthy volunteers with a regular yoga practice | no significant change | did not have a significant effect | #4 |
active transcranial direct stimulation | no change | levels of mindfulness | healthy volunteers with a regular yoga practice | no significant change | did not have a significant effect | #5 |
intervention | increase | performance | participants | better | significant placebo effect | #6 |
active transcranial direct stimulation versus sham transcranial direct stimulation | no change | working memory performance | healthy volunteers with a regular yoga practice | no significant difference | no significant difference | #7 |
active transcranial direct stimulation versus sham transcranial direct stimulation | no change | mindfulness | healthy volunteers with a regular yoga practice | no significant difference | no significant difference | #8 |
Transcranial direct stimulation, a non-invasive neurostimulation technique for modulating cortical excitability, and yoga have both respectively been shown to positively affect cognition. While preliminary research has shown that combined transcranial direct stimulation and meditation may have synergistic effects on mood and cognition, this was the first study to explore the combination of transcranial direct stimulation and yoga. Twenty-two healthy volunteers with a regular yoga practice were randomized to receive either active transcranial direct stimulation (anodal left, cathodal right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex) followed by yoga intervention or sham transcranial direct stimulation followed by yoga intervention a double-blind, cross-over design over two separate intervention days. Outcome measures included working memory performance, measured with the n-back task and mindfulness state, measured with the Toronto Mindfulness Scale, and were conducted offline, with pre-post assessments. Twenty participants completed both days of the intervention. Active transcranial direct stimulation did not have a significant effect on working memory or levels of mindfulness. There was a significant placebo effect, with better performance on day 1 of the intervention, irrespective of whether participants received active or sham transcranial direct stimulation. There was no significant difference between active versus sham transcranial direct stimulation concerning working memory performance and mindfulness, which may be accounted by the small sample size, the transient nature of the intervention, the fact that yoga and transcranial direct stimulation concerning were not conducted simultaneously, and the specific site of stimulation.