Immediate Effect of Bhastrika pranayama on Critical Flickering Fusion Frequency among Healthy Volunteers: A Randomized Controlled Study.
International Journal of Yoga January 1, 2026 S Sadhana, S Suganthi, A Mooventhan et al.
A randomized controlled trial tested whether a single 5-minute session of Bhastrika pranayama (bellows breath) immediately improves cognitive function, measured by critical flicker fusion frequency (CFFF), in healthy individuals. Sixty participants were randomly assigned to either the breathing exercise or normal breathing for the same duration. CFFF was assessed before and right after the session. The results showed no significant difference between the groups (P = 0.32), indicating that a brief practice of Bhastrika pranayama does not enhance cognitive function compared to normal breathing in healthy people. The authors call for further research on potential short- or long-term effects in different populations.