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Published on: August 18, 2014
Immediate effect of nostril breathing on memory performance
Ghanshyam Singh Thakur1, D D Kulkarni, Gaurav Pant
1Scientific Research Department, Kaivalyadhama, Lonavla, Maharastra, India. thakurghanshyam@rediffmail.com
Indian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
|February 10, 2012
Summary
Right Nostril Breathing (RNB) significantly improved numerical recall, enhancing Digit Span Forward and Backward scores. Left Nostril Breathing (LNB) showed potential for right-hemisphere memory restoration, suggesting brain lateralization influences cognitive function.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Psychology
- Respiratory Physiology
Background:
- Self-control and cognitive functions are influenced by various practices.
- Nostril breathing techniques are explored for their impact on brain function and memory.
- Breath Awareness (BA) serves as a control or comparative intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of specific nostril breathing practices on memory recall and associate learning.
- To determine if Right Nostril Breathing (RNB), Left Nostril Breathing (LNB), or Alternate Nostril Breathing (ANB) impacts cognitive performance.
- To evaluate the influence of Breath Awareness (BA) on memory functions.
Main Methods:
- A self-control study involving thirty healthy adult subjects.
- Interventions included RNB, LNB, ANB, and BA, each practiced for 30 minutes daily over four consecutive days.
- Cognitive assessments used Digit Span Forward (DSF), Digit Span Backward (DSB), and the Wechsler Memory Scale.
Main Results:
- Repeated Measure ANOVA revealed a significant increase in DSF and DSB recall performance with RNB (P<0.001).
- ANB also showed a significant increase in DSB scores (P<0.014).
- LNB did not yield a statistically significant increase in recall performance, but its effect on the left hemisphere may aid right-hemisphere memory function.
Conclusions:
- RNB significantly enhances numerical data retrieval, likely due to left-brain activation.
- ANB positively impacts backward digit span recall.
- Nostril breathing techniques, particularly RNB, offer a non-invasive method to potentially improve specific memory functions.
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