Login Register Cart 0
Generic placeholder image

Current Traditional Medicine

Editor-in-Chief

ISSN (Print): 2215-0838
ISSN (Online): 2215-0846

Back
Journal Home About Journal Editorial Board Journal Insight Current Issue Volumes/Issues
Subscribe
Systematic Review Article

Viability of Superbrain Yoga Practise in Academic Setting: A Systematic Review

Author(s): V. Vinu, Jois N Srikanth*, Nagendra Prasad K and Lancy Dsouza

Volume 10, Issue 7, 2024

Published on: 08 September, 2023

Article ID: e300823220509 Pages: 11

DOI: 10.2174/2215083810666230830125242

open access plus

Abstract

Background: Yoga has its roots in India's Vedic era. Practising it enhances the overall health and well-being of students. Superbrain yoga (SBY) is a brief exercise based on the principle of ear acupuncture and repetitive 14 squats holding earlobes. It is practised by many students in India and across other parts of the world.

Objective: This systematic review assesses SBY on students' cognitive abilities, academic performance, as well as mental health benefits and discusses if using SBY in academic settings is viable.

Methods: The intervention studies of SBY or mixed with other exercises practiced by the student population published in journals and indexed in Web of Science, SCOPUS, and PubMed, are taken into consideration for this review based on PRISMA guidelines. The primary keywords include Superbrain Yoga, Thoppukaranam, and Super Brain Yoga. Studies published in English peer-reviewed journals between 2005 to 2021 were considered.

Results: Fifteen studies met the inclusion criteria. The review found that SBY practise was feasible in academic settings, with advantages to students' cognitive state (memory, attention, concentration), academic performance, and mental health Additionally, SBY and other yogasana were proven to be beneficial in raising cognitive activity and promoting positive behavioural improvements in students with special needs.

Conclusion: SBY is found to improve students cognitive abilities, academic performance, and mental health. More rigorous trials on SBY are needed to substantiate the effectiveness.

Keywords: Attention, cognitive ability, memory, prana, yoga, chakra.

Graphical Abstract

[1]
Frawley D. Vedic yoga: The path of the Rishi. (1st ed.), Twin Lakes, USA: Lotus Press 2014.
[2]
Madhavacharya. Srimathsuthasamhita: Suta Samhita with Tatparya Dipika. Njana Yoga Khandam 2006; 1: 2141-4.
[3]
Sarde V. ‘Yoga on Stone’: Sculptural representation of yoga on mahuḍī gate at dabhoī in Gujarāt. Herit J Multidiscip Stud Archaeol 2017; 5: 656-75.
[4]
Powell S. Etched in stone: Sixteenth-century visual and material evidence of śaiva ascetics and yogis in complex non-seated āsanas at vijayanagara. J yoga stud 2018; 1: 45-106.
[5]
Hodge H. Yoga Therapy. (1st ed..), Waltham Abbey Essex, England: Ed- tech Press 2019.
[6]
Mohammad A, Thakur P, Kumar R, Kaur S, Saini RV, Saini AK. Biological markers for the effects of yoga as a complementary and alternative medicine. J Complement Integr Med 2019; 16(1): 20180094.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/jcim-2018-0094] [PMID: 30735481]
[7]
WHO. Global action plan on physical activity 2018-2030: More active people for a healthier world. 2019.
[8]
Khalsa SBS, Butzer B. Yoga in school settings: A research review. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2016; 1373(1): 45-55.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/nyas.13025] [PMID: 26919395]
[9]
Cartwright T, Mason H, Porter A, Pilkington K. Yoga practice in the UK: A cross-sectional survey of motivation, health benefits and behaviours. BMJ Open 2020; 10(1): e031848.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2019-031848] [PMID: 31932388]
[10]
Jagannathan A, Hakkim A, Bhargav H, Jasti N, Varambally S, Gangadhar B. Development and feasibility testing of a brief yoga module on well-being and cognition of postgraduate mental healthcare students in tertiary settings. Int J Yoga 2021; 14(3): 229-38.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.4103/ijoy.ijoy_87_21] [PMID: 35017865]
[11]
Buecker S, Simacek T, Ingwersen B, Terwiel S, Simonsmeier BA. Physical activity and subjective well-being in healthy individuals: A meta-analytic review. Health Psychol Rev 2021; 15(4): 574-92.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17437199.2020.1760728] [PMID: 32452716]
[12]
Serwacki M, Cook-Cottone C. Yoga in the schools: A systematic review of the literature. Int J Yoga Therap 2012; 22(1): 101-10.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.17761/ijyt.22.1.7716244t75u4l702] [PMID: 23070680]
[13]
Hagins M, Rundle A. Yoga improves academic performance in urban high school students compared to physical education: A randomized controlled trial. Mind Brain Educ 2016; 10(2): 105-16.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/mbe.12107]
[14]
Ferreira-Vorkapic C, Feitoza JM, Marchioro M, Simões J, Kozasa E, Telles S. Are there benefits from teaching yoga at schools? A systematic review of randomized control trials of yoga-based interventions. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2015; 2015(345835): 1-17.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/345835] [PMID: 26491461]
[15]
Desai R, Tailor A, Bhatt T. Effects of yoga on brain waves and structural activation: A review. Complement Ther Clin Pract 2015; 21(2): 112-8.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ctcp.2015.02.002] [PMID: 25824030]
[16]
Nagendra H, Kumar V, Mukherjee S. Cognitive behavior evaluation based on physiological parameters among young healthy subjects with yoga as intervention. Comput Math Methods Med 2015; 2015: 1-13.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/821061] [PMID: 25759746]
[17]
Gothe NP, Khan I, Hayes J, Erlenbach E, Damoiseaux JS. Yoga effects on brain health: A systematic review of the current literature. Brain Plast 2019; 5(1): 105-22.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.3233/BPL-190084] [PMID: 31970064]
[18]
Hume RE. The Thirteen Principal Upanishads. India: Humphrey Milford, Oxford University Press 1921.
[19]
Sui CK. Superbrain yoga. (1st ed.), Banglore, India: Institute of InnerStudies Publishing Foundation India Private Ltd 2009.
[20]
Mondal S. Proposed identification of physiological classification and theoretical mechanisms of yogāsanas. J Ayurveda Integr Med 2022; 13(2): 100484.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jaim.2021.06.024] [PMID: 34949523]
[21]
Sui CK. The chakras and their functions. (1st ed.), Institute of InnerStudies Publishing Foundation India 2009.
[22]
Westmoquette. Qi: A Personal take on the intersection of tcm and the natural sciences. Spiritual Stud 2021; 7(2): 13-23.
[23]
Sui CK. Inner teachings of Hinduism Revealed. (1st ed.), Banglore, India: InnerStudies Publishing Foundation India Private Ltd 2014.
[24]
Rowold J. Validity of the biofield assessment form (BAF). Eur J Integr Med 2016; 8(4): 446-52.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.eujim.2016.02.007]
[25]
Sa’at A. The absent mother: Malay cinema, cultural memory and mediated spectatorship. 4th Annual Southeast Asian Cinemas Conference: Ethics, Social Justice and Collective Responsibility. Jakarta,Indonesia. 2007.
[26]
Othman MI. Undang-undang untuk pengetua dan guru besar. Malaysia: PTS Professional Publishing 2003; p. 9831921828.
[27]
Rajesh SK, Srinivasan TM, Chandrasekeran A. Effect of repetitive yogic squats with specific hand position (Thoppukaranam) on selective attention and psychological states. Int J Yoga 2014; 7(1): 76-9.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.4103/0973-6131.123497] [PMID: 25035612]
[28]
Viji VS, Subbulakshmi S, Devi LU. Effect of super brain yoga on concentration and memory in children in a selected private school, kelambakkam, kanchipuram dt, Tamilnadu, India. J Pharm Res Int 2021; 33(56A): 141-9.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.9734/jpri/2021/v33i56A33896]
[29]
Jois SN, D’Souza L. Effectiveness of superbrain yoga on the academic performance and attendance of school students. Psychol Educ 2018; 55(1-2): 56-61.
[30]
Kanchibhotla D, Gupte P, Harsora P, Kulkarni S. Impact of Prajñā yoga on cognition in adolescents with congenital and adventitious visual impairment. Explore 2022; 18(3): 313-8.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.explore.2021.05.010] [PMID: 34301513]
[31]
Genovese JEC, Little KD. Two studies of Superbrain Yoga’s potential effect on academic performance based on the Number Facility Test. Psychol Conscious 2015; 2(4): 452-60.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/cns0000061]
[32]
Tolan M. A systematic evaluation of super brain yoga for elementary school students. Thesis Submitted to Southern Illinois University at Carbondale,United States 2018.
[33]
Farahani PV, Hekmatpou D, Khonsari AH, Gholami M. Effectiveness of super brain yoga for children with hyperactivity disorder. Perspect Psychiatr Care 2019; 55(2): 140-6.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/ppc.12266] [PMID: 29427513]
[34]
Murat ZH, Muhsin AM, Kadir RSSA, Ahmad FH. Intervention of super brain yoga towards brainwave balancing index, brainwave dominance and short-term memory. AIP Conf Proc 2020; 2306(1): 020037.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/5.0033359]
[35]
Erawati E, Talib STR, Sarwono B, Supriyatno H. Influence of stimulation super brain yoga exercise on elementary school student’s psychosocial development task in magelang. Proc Surabaya Int Health Conf 2019; 1(1): 51-5.
[36]
Di Bartolomeo G, Papa S, Bellomo S. Yoga beyond wellness: Meditation, trust and cooperation. Econ Papers 2012.
[37]
Cozzolino M, Vivo DR, Celia G. School-based mind–body interventions: A research review. Hu Arenas 2021; 5: 3-14.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s42087-020-00163-1]
[38]
Zaki S. Sri Aurobindo’s integral education. Int J Educ Sci 2022; 39(1-3): 115-21.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.31901/24566322.2022/39.1-3.1239]
[39]
Page MJ, McKenzie JE, Bossuyt PM, et al. The PRISMA 2020 statement: An updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. Int J Surg 2021; 88: 105906.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijsu.2021.105906] [PMID: 33789826]
[40]
Srikanth N. A systematic literature review on cognitive abilities, academic performance and mental health benefits among students practicing superbrain yoga. PROSPERO. 2022. Available from: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42022298884
[41]
NHLBI. Quality Assessment Tool for controlled intervention studies 2013. Available from: https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/study-quality-assessment-tools
[42]
Center for Evidence Based Management. Critical Appraisal Checklist for Cross-Sectional Study, Bargelaan 2014. Available from: https://www.cebma.org (Retrieved on 11.02.2022)
[43]
Bhakthavatsalam RK, Venu G, Raju PK, Madhusudan HC. White collar rhabdomyolysis with acute kidney injury. Indian J Nephrol 2016; 26(6): 449-51.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.4103/0971-4065.177209] [PMID: 27942178]
[44]
R G, Dc M. Effect of super brain yoga on heart rate variability among undergraduate medical students. Ann Trop Med Public Health 2020; 23(13): 231-313.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.36295/ASRO.2020.231313]
[45]
Jois SN, D’Souza L, Moulya R. Effectiveness of superbrain yoga on short-term memory, visuo-spatial ability and academic performance of students. Indian J Public Health Res Dev 2018; 9(3): 183.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.5958/0976-5506.2018.00206.1]
[46]
Premalatha BR, Sudhir J, Hegde U, Sreeshyla HS, Chandavarkar V, Mishra MN. Effectiveness of superbrain asana on the academic performance in dental students — an interventional study. J Nat Rem 2021; 21(4): 291-5.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.18311/jnr/2021/25874]
[47]
Jois SN, D’Souza L, Moulya R. Beneficial effects of Superbrain yoga on short-term memory and selective attention of students. Indian J Tradit Knowl 2017; 16: 35-9.
[48]
Jois SN, D’Souza L. The effectiveness of Superbrain Yoga on concentration, memory and confidence in school students. Indian J Tradit Knowl 2018; 17(4): 741-4.
[49]
Scroggins M, Litchke L, Liu T. Effects of multisensory yoga on behavior in a male child with Apert and Asperger syndrome. Int J Yoga 2016; 9(1): 81-4.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.4103/0973-6131.171716] [PMID: 26865777]
[50]
Litchke LG, Liu T, Castro S. Effects of multimodal mandala yoga on social and emotional skills for youth with autism spectrum disorder: An exploratory study. Int J Yoga 2018; 11(1): 59-65.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.4103/ijoy.IJOY_80_16] [PMID: 29343932]
[51]
Thomas J. D V. A comparative study of the effects of superbrain yoga and aerobic exercise on cognitive functions. Natl J Physiol Pharm Pharmacol 2017; 7(9): 1.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.5455/njppp.2017.7.0309126062017]
[52]
Francis T, Devi RG, Jyothipriya A. Comparative study on the effect of intense exercise and yoga on memory. Drug Invent Today 2019; 12(4): 735-7.
[53]
Pérez L, Padilla C, Parmentier FB, Andrés P. The effects of chronic exercise on attentional networks. PLoS One 2014; 9(7): e101478.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0101478]
[54]
Kauts A, Sharma N. Effect of yoga on academic performance in relation to stress. Int J Yoga 2009; 2(1): 39-43.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.4103/0973-6131.53860]
[55]
Vinu V, Jois S, Prasad N, et al. Longitudinal evaluation of superbrain yoga practice on academic performance among adolescents. Health Educ Health Promot 2022; 10(2): 1-9.
[56]
Goyat R, Khatak A, Sindhu S. Techniques for analysis of the effectiveness of yoga through EEG signals: A review. International Conference on Computational Vision and Bio Inspired Computing. 547-53.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-41862-5_53]
[57]
Parikh R, Michelson D, Sapru M, et al. Priorities and preferences for school-based mental health services in India: A multi-stakeholder study with adolescents, parents, school staff, and mental health providers. Glob Ment Health 2019; 6: e18.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/gmh.2019.16] [PMID: 31531228]
[58]
Adelman H, Taylor L. Expanding policy leadership for mental health in schools. 1999. Available from: http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/report/minisum.pdf
[59]
McCallops K, Barnes TN, Berte I, et al. Incorporating culturally responsive pedagogy within social-emotional learning interventions in urban schools: An international systematic review. Int J Educ Res 2019; 94: 11-28.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijer.2019.02.007]
[60]
Riniolo N. Effectiveness of physical activity intervention programs on reducing or eliminating behaviors associated with ADHD in children. 2020. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12648/3955
[61]
Levin CJ, Swoap SJ. The impact of deep breathing and alternate nostril breathing on heart rate variability: A human physiology laboratory. Adv Physiol Educ 2019; 43(3): 270-6.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/advan.00019.2019] [PMID: 31166123]
[62]
Li YW, Li W, Wang ST, et al. The autonomic nervous system: A potential link to the efficacy of acupuncture. Front Neurosci 2022; 16(16): 1038945.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2022.1038945] [PMID: 36570846]
[63]
Schmidt JE, Carlson CR, Usery AR, Quevedo AS. Effects of tongue position on mandibular muscle activity and heart rate function. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 2009; 108(6): 881-8.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tripleo.2009.06.029] [PMID: 19773187]
[64]
Fields RD, Araque A, Johansen-Berg H, et al. Glial biology in learning and cognition. Neuroscientist 2014; 20(5): 426-31.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1073858413504465] [PMID: 24122821]
[65]
Glatigny M, Moriceau S, Rivagorda M, et al. Autophagy is required for memory formation and reverses age-related memory decline. Curr Biol 2019; 29(3): 435-448.e8.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2018.12.021] [PMID: 30661803]
[66]
Qu S, Liu S, Qiu W, Liu J, Wang H. Screening of autophagy genes as prognostic indicators for glioma patients. Am J Transl Res 2020; 12(9): 5320-31.
[67]
Thenga NE, Mutshaeni HN, Mashau TS. Secondary school learners’ stress coping strategies. Int J Educ Sci 2015; 10(1): 21-7.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09751122.2015.11890335]

Rights & Permissions Print Cite
Article Metrics
18
1
Wayfinder Image
© 2024 Bentham Science Publishers | Privacy Policy