Effect of a one-month yoga training program on performance in a mirror-tracing task

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Psychology
• Human Movement Science

Background:

• Mirror star tracing is a common task to assess visuospatial skills and eye-hand coordination.
• Previous research suggests various interventions can impact performance on such tasks.
• The specific effects of yoga on mirror star tracing performance require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of a one-month yoga intervention on mirror star tracing performance.
• To compare the effects of yoga with a control group on visuospatial abilities.
• To determine if yoga practice enhances specific components of performance, such as accuracy and speed.

Main Methods:

• Two groups of 26 volunteers (aged 18-45) were recruited: a yoga group and a control group.
• Participants performed a mirror star tracing task using a six-pointed star outline composed of 60 circles.
• Performance was assessed over one month, measuring the number of circles crossed and left out.

Main Results:

• The yoga group demonstrated significant improvements in both hands for circles crossed (P<0.001) and a decrease in circles left out for the right hand (P<0.05).
• The control group showed a significant increase in circles crossed for the left hand alone (P<0.05), attributed to re-testing effects.
• Yoga intervention led to notable enhancements in reversal ability, eye-hand coordination, speed, and accuracy.

Conclusions:

• One month of yoga practice significantly improves performance in the mirror star tracing task.
• Yoga intervention enhances key components of visuospatial processing, including eye-hand coordination and accuracy.
• The findings suggest yoga is a beneficial practice for improving skills relevant to mirror star tracing.