A Comparative Study of Immediate Effects of Yogic Techniques on Human Memory

Regulating the breath is an important part of yogic techniques. A study was started with the selection of fifty normal subjects of both genders, age 25±5 years. The subjects were trained for forced nostril breathing, which is a type of yogic techniques; i.e. right nostril breathing, left nostril breathing, alternate nostril breathing and breath awareness for duration of 30 minutes daily for two week. The subjects were examined before and after two week yoga training for immediate effect of forced nostril breathing in memory performance using WECHSLER memory scale. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of yoga between male and female in memory performance. Measure ANOVA analysis revealed a significant increase in Digit Span Forward , Digit Span Backward and associate learning recall performance due to forced nostril breathing at P<0.001 level . Comparative data shows that increment of digit span forward and associate learning memory in both males and females was almost equal at P<0.001 level and findings of digit span backward revealed that forced nostril breathing influences differently in males and females. Data of digit span backward test shows better memory performance in females.