Name: Resting-State Connectivity and Neuroimaging of Prefrontal Cortex Activity During a Block-Design Yoga Asana Practice Using fNIRS (Video) | JoVE Journal
Uploaded: 2025-06-24T15:00:00.000+00:00
Duration: 7 min 56 s
Description: Explore prefrontal cortex activity during yoga asanas using fNIRS in 27 adults. This method measures brain function during movement, revealing significant activation in active postures and altered resting-state connectivity.

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The authors sincerely thank CONAHCYT for their financial support, which included a scholarship for the lead author and funding for the acquisition of the fNIRS equipment. The authors also express their heartfelt appreciation to the volunteers, whose participation was crucial to the success of this research. M. Goodrick acknowledges support from CONAHCYT through scholarship No. CVU 1241565. E. Guevara acknowledges support from the CONAHCYT Frontier Science project 20884.

M. Goodrick is the owner of Karmuka Yoga, a yoga studio. The rest of the authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

This study utilized fNIRS to assess PFC activity during a structured yoga asana practice, emphasizing key methodological considerations and advancements in real-world neuroimaging. Critical protocol elements included precise fNIRS optode placement, with optimal source-detector spacing (3.0 cm) and proper optode-scalp coupling to ensure accurate signal acquisition. A randomized block design, alternating between active postures (B, C, D) and a baseline posture (A) with support from yoga ropes, minimized participant fatigue...

Yoga is an ancient Indian practice that integrates physical postures (asana), breathing exercises (pranayama), meditation, and ethical principles to promote holistic physical and mental well-being. In recent years, yoga has become increasingly recognized as a complementary intervention for mental health conditions, supported by a growing body of scientific research. Numerous studies have shown that regular yoga practice can significantly reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress, while enhancing mood, emotional regulation, and overall psychological resilience1,2,3. Meta-analyses and randomized controlled trials have further substantiated yoga&#39;s efficacy as an adjunct therapy for depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, with evidence also suggesting improved quality of life and cognitive function4,5,6,7,8.
Despite this promising evidence base, the neural mechanisms underlying movement-based yoga practices, particularly the physical postures (asana), remain poorly understood9,10. This gap in knowledge has hindered efforts to integrate yoga into neurocognitive models of intervention. The goal of the present study is to investigate brain activity associated with yoga asana practice in real time, thereby contributing to a mechanistic understanding of how movement-based contemplative practices impact cortical function.
To accomplish this, we employed functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), a non-invasive, portable neuroimaging technique that measures hemodynamic responses in the cerebral cortex11. The rationale for using fNIRS is rooted in its ability to monitor brain activity during naturalistic, upright movement -- an approach not possible with conventional imaging methods such as fMRI or PET, which require participants to remain motionless in artificial environments12. Compared to these alternatives, fNIRS offers several advantages: it is silent, motion-tolerant, and allows for the study of ecologically valid tasks in real-world environments13. Consequently, it has been widely used in studies of motor learning, cognitive workload, infant development, gait and balance, and mindfulness practices, producing reliable insights into prefrontal cortex activity during both static and dynamic conditions14,15,16,17,18. Its application in naturalistic settings, particularly during movement, has opened new avenues for studying embodied cognition and the neural substrates of integrative health interventions.
However, few studies have applied this technique to yoga asana specifically, and even fewer have done so across the full temporal arc of a session -- from pre- to during to post-practice -- with a population-representative sample. To address this, the current study employed a block-design protocol using fNIRS to examine cortical activity and resting-state connectivity before, during, and after a structured yoga asana sequence. The study was conducted in a naturalistic setting and included 27 native Spanish-speaking participants from Mexico, thereby addressing a significant gap in the literature concerning the effects of yoga in Latin-Spanish-speaking populations. Participants ranged in age from 18 to 65 and included both male and female individuals with a wide range of yoga experience, from complete beginners to practitioners with up to 15 years of regular practice. All participants reported no severe psychological or physiological conditions that would prevent them from completing the 23 min yoga session. Individuals with severe psychiatric disorders or mobility-limiting physical conditions were excluded. While participants were not screened for specific medical pathologies such as hypertension or diabetes, it was clearly explained prior to the session that they could stop at any time should they feel unwell or uncomfortable. It was agreed in advance that any incomplete sessions would be excluded from analysis.
Of the original 30 participants, no one withdrew due to discomfort during the yoga practice. However, three were excluded from the final analysis due to excessive signal noise likely caused by hardware interference or technical software malfunction. By including a demographically diverse and representative sample and allowing for real-time, motion-tolerant imaging, this study enhances both the ecological validity and generalizability of findings. Researchers and clinicians seeking to investigate the neural dynamics of movement-based contemplative practices may find this method especially relevant for applications in cognitive neuroscience, rehabilitation science, and integrative mental health research.

<table><tbody><tr><td>3-D Digitizer</td><td>Artinis Medical</td><td>DGT-456</td><td>Used for cap placement and region mapping</td></tr><tr><td>Brite MKII fNIRS Device</td><td>Artinis Medical</td><td>BR-MK2</td><td>Portable fNIRS instrument for PFC data</td></tr><tr><td>Harmony yoga mat 3/16&amp;rdquo; (5mm) thick 68&quot; (173cm)</td><td>Jade</td><td>HAR368</td><td>Stable surface for practicing asana</td></tr><tr><td>HOMER 3 Software</td><td>Boston University Neurophotonics Center (Open Source)</td><td>Homer v1.54</td><td>For fNIRS data preprocessing</td></tr><tr><td>Origin(Pro) Software</td><td>OriginLab</td><td>ORG-2023</td><td>Statistical analysis of data</td></tr><tr><td>Oxysoft Software</td><td>Artinis Medical</td><td>OXY-001</td><td>Real-time signal acquisition</td></tr><tr><td>Piola Cotton 12mm Ropes</td><td>Tarpsupplies</td><td>N/A</td><td>Part of the wall-mounted yoga rope system</td></tr><tr><td>PowerPoint Presentation Setup</td><td>Microsoft</td><td>N/A</td><td>For instructional visuals</td></tr><tr><td>Stainless Steel Hook</td><td>Homheal</td><td>liuxi-050</td><td>Part of the wall-mounted yoga rope system</td></tr><tr><td>Wall-mounted yoga rope system</td><td>Custom made</td><td>N/A</td><td>Aid for yoga postures</td></tr></tbody></table>

resting-state connectivity and neuroimaging of prefrontal cortex activity during a block-design yoga asana practice using fnirs

Resting-State Connectivity and Neuroimaging of Prefrontal Cortex Activity During a Block-Design Yoga Asana Practice Using fNIRS

This study aimed to use functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) mobile neuroimaging technology to examine changes in prefrontal cortex (PFC) activity before, during, and after yoga asana (physical yoga postures). A total of 27 healthy adults participated in a 23 min yoga asana session using a block design. Before and after the sequence, participants completed two 6 min, task-independent resting states. PFC activity was continuously recorded using the fNIRS instrument, positioned on the frontal area of the skull. The session included a control posture alternating with three active postures. Each active posture was held for 30 s, followed by a 25-30 s control posture interval, and repeated eight times. This block design resulted in 25 control posture intervals and 24 repetitions of each active posture. Analysis included preprocessing of raw fNIRS data to calculate concentrations of oxyhemoglobin (HbO) and deoxyhemoglobin (HbR), motion artifact correction, and statistical evaluation using ANOVA with Bonferroni corrections. Connectivity analyses examined interhemispheric and intrahemispheric correlations in the prefrontal cortex. In conclusion, this study demonstrates the utility of fNIRS in real-world, movement-based contexts and provides neurological insights into the effects of yoga asana.

The preliminary analysis of active channels revealed significant differences between control posture A and the postures B and C (Figure 5A-B). A one-way repeated measures ANOVA was then performed to evaluate statistical differences in the mean HbO values of the estimated hemodynamic response function (HRF) across channels using the software package Origin(Pro), Version 2018. The assumption of normality was assessed using the Shapiro-Wilk test.
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This study used functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to measure prefrontal cortex activity during a 23 min block-design yoga asana sequence with 27 adults. Resting-state connectivity was recorded before and after practice. Findings highlight fNIRS's effectiveness in movement-based research and provide neurological insights into the effects of yoga asanas.

This study aimed to use functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) mobile neuroimaging technology to examine changes in prefrontal cortex (PFC) ...

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Explore prefrontal cortex activity during yoga asanas using fNIRS in 27 adults. This method measures brain function during movement, revealing significant activation in active postures and altered resting-state connectivity.

Resting-State Connectivity and Neuroimaging of Prefrontal Cortex Activity During a Block-Design Yoga Asana Practice Using fNIRS

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