How yoga shapes the brain: a systematic review

Yoga is a mind-body practice that originated in India thousands of years ago, and which has extended throughout the world in recent years. As it becomes more popular, more studies are being conducted regarding its health benefits in multiple areas, including the human brain, where results have shown that it can reduce stress, modulate neurotransmitters, increase cerebral blood flow, and affect brain structure and function. This review aims to provide a synthesis of the current knowledge on the impact of yoga on human brain structure and function, through the selection and analysis of 23 international peer-reviewed neuroimaging studies with healthy participants. These studies were selected from 216 results on Web of Science, PubMed and PsycInfo after applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The final set of studies employed both neuroimaging and neurophysiological techniques, including MRI, fMRI, and EEG. The results show that yoga may exert multiple effects on the brain. However, the heterogeneity of results may be explained by differences in sample characteristics, study designs, and the lack of a consistent definition of yoga and its distinction from meditation. Finally, the limitations of the present review are discussed, along with recommendations for future research aimed at better understanding the neuropsychological health benefits of yoga.