Research

Cognitive Sciences and Psychology

Title :

Mapping Psychoacoustical, Neurophysiological and Cognitive Benefits of Yoga and Meditation: a Cross-sectional Study Across Age

Area of Research :

Cognitive Sciences and Psychology

Focus Area :

Yoga, Cognition & Aging

Principal Investigator :

Dr. Prashanth Prabhu, All India Institute of Speech Hearing, Mysuru, Karnataka (570006), Dr. Nisha K V, All India Institute of Speech Hearing, Mysuru, Karnataka (570006)

Contact info :

Timeline Start Year :

2023

Timeline End Year :

2026

Total Budget (INR):

17,88,302

Details

Executive Summary :

Yoga and meditation are widely recognized as effective interventions for physical, mental, and spiritual health, with benefits observed across all ages and health conditions. However, the utility of these methods in the auditory domain remains unestablished. As aging progresses, perceptual deficits in all sensory domains, including auditory sense, increase exponentially. Current strategies for rehabilitating auditory-related decline in the elderly include hearing aids and assistive listening devices, which show negligible success rates. To address this gap, a study was conducted on 180 individuals, divided into three age groups: 40-55 years, 55-70 years, and 70 years. Participants were assessed using various tests, including threshold-based, temporal, spectral, and spatial processing, and cognitive tests. P300 was also recorded at three electrode sites. The study aimed to compare objective measures obtained in each test across age groups in both yoga-practitioners and yoga-practitioners. The statistical analysis of data in each test followed by cluster analysis to understand the dominant factors benefiting from yoga across age groups. The findings have strong implications for scientifically advocating the benefits of yoga and meditation on auditory and cognitive aspects across advancing age groups. The study has strong implications in scientifically advocating for the benefits of yoga and meditation on auditory and cognitive aspects.

Equipments :

Organizations involved