Evaluation of Immediate Changes in Reaction Time Following Bhramari Pranayama Among Young Adults: A Prospective Study

Background Reaction time (RT) constitutes a fundamental psychomotor parameter reflecting neurocognitive efficiency and sensorimotor integration capacity. Bhramari Pranayama, characterized by prolonged humming exhalation, demonstrates promising neurocognitive enhancement potential through parasympathetic activation mechanisms. This investigation aimed to evaluate immediate changes in auditory reaction time (ART) and visual reaction time (VRT) following a single, brief Bhramari Pranayama session among healthy young adults, with a comprehensive assessment of gender differences and hand dominance patterns. Methodology A prospective, single-group, repeated-measures observational study was conducted among 60 healthy young adults aged 18 to 25 years, with equal gender distribution. Pre-yoga session assessments encompassed ART and VRT for bilateral upper extremities using a validated, PC-based reaction timer with 1000 Hz temporal resolution. Participants engaged in a supervised 10-minute Bhramari Pranayama session comprising 15 complete breathing cycles, with standardized four-second inhalation and six-second humming exhalation protocols. Immediate post-session RT reassessment employed identical measurement protocols. Results Baseline demographic characteristics demonstrated no significant gender differences across subgroups. ART exhibited statistically significant reductions for the right hand, from 186.42 ms to 168.73 ms (mean reduction 17.69 ms, t = 8.247, p < 0.0001, Cohen's d = 1.065), and for the left hand, from 192.58 ms to 171.25 ms (mean reduction 21.33 ms, t = 9.183, p < 0.0001, Cohen's d = 1.186). VRT demonstrated superior improvements, with the right hand decreasing from 223.67 ms to 201.35 ms (mean reduction 22.32 ms, t = 9.524, p < 0.0001, Cohen's d = 1.230), and the left hand from 228.93 ms to 204.18 ms (mean reduction 24.75 ms, t = 10.187, p < 0.0001, Cohen's d = 1.316). The non-dominant left hand consistently exhibited greater improvement magnitudes across both sensory modalities. Gender-stratified analysis revealed therapeutic equipoise, with females demonstrating numerically greater but statistically non-significant improvements (9.31% to 10.23%) compared to males (8.77% to 9.86%) across all measured parameters (all p > 0.13). Conclusion Single-session Bhramari Pranayama is associated with statistically significant and clinically meaningful RT improvements, with large effect sizes across auditory and visual modalities among healthy young adults. Gender-independent observed changes support broad demographic applicability. These findings demonstrate substantial practical significance for time-efficient neurocognitive enhancement interventions in academic, occupational, and athletic contexts requiring optimal psychomotor performance and attentional capacity.