What Has Neuroimaging Taught Us on the Neurobiology of Yoga? A Review
June van Aalst, Jenny Ceccarini, Koen Demyttenaere, Stefan Sunaert, Koen van Laere
Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience July 8, 2020 DOI: 10.3389/fnint.2020.00034 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Systematic review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Yoga practitioners |
| Topics | Default mode network |
| Keywords | Insula Functional neuroimaging Positron emission tomography Prefrontal cortex Functional imaging Cognition |
| Citations | 57 |
| Key findings | Yoga practice is associated with increased gray matter volume in the insula and hippocampus, increased prefrontal cortical activation, and functional connectivity changes within the default mode network. |
Abstract
Yoga is becoming increasingly popular worldwide, with several implicated physical and mental benefits. Here we provide a comprehensive and critical review of the research generated from the existing neuroimaging literature in studies of yoga practitioners. We reviewed 34 international peer-reviewed neuroimaging studies of yoga using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET), or single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT): 11 morphological and 26 functional studies, including three studies that were classified as both morphological and functional. Consistent findings include increased gray matter volume in the insula and hippocampus, increased activation of prefrontal cortical regions, and functional connectivity changes mainly within the default mode network. There is quite some variability in the neuroimaging findings that partially reflects different yoga styles and approaches, as well as sample size limitations. Direct comparator groups such as physical activity are scarcely used so far. Finally, hypotheses on the underlying neurobiology derived from the imaging findings are discussed in the light of the potential beneficial effects of yoga.
Comparable studies
Other systematic reviews and meta-analyses on default mode network, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| The wandering brain: Meta-analysis of functional neuroimaging studies of mind-wandering and related spontaneous thought processes | 2015 | Meta-analysis | |
| Investigating the Functional Heterogeneity of the Default Mode Network Using Coordinate-Based Meta-Analytic Modeling | 2009 | Meta-analysis | |
| The Default Mode Network in Healthy Individuals: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Healthy individuals | 2016 | Systematic review and meta-analysis | |
| Dreaming as mind wandering: evidence from functional neuroimaging and first-person content reports. | 2013 | Systematic review with meta-analytic comparison | |
| Default Mode Network Modulation by Psychedelics: A Systematic Review Participants from included studies | 2022 | Systematic review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 13
- Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A State-of-the-art Review. Current Neuropharmacology 2024
- Management of post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms by yoga: an overview. BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies July 21, 2023
- Twelve-Week Yoga vs. Aerobic Cycling Initiation in Sedentary Healthy Subjects: A Behavioral and Multiparametric Interventional PET/MR Study Frontiers in Psychiatry October 18, 2021
- Effect of Yoga Intervention for Health Care Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review. Journal of Integrative and Complementary Medicine July 2026
- Brain resting state functional connectivity changes with aerobic exercise, and mindfulness: A narrative review. Sports Medicine and Health Science July 1, 2026
and 8 more in the library
Cites 29
- Meditation experience is associated with differences in default mode network activity and connectivity Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences November 23, 2011
- A Yoga and Compassion Meditation Program Reduces Stress in Familial Caregivers of Alzheimer's Disease Patients Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2013
- Common and Dissociable Neural Activity After Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction and Relaxation Response Programs Psychosomatic Medicine April 11, 2018
- Short‐term Sahaja Yoga meditation training modulates brain structure and spontaneous activity in the executive control network Brain and Behavior November 28, 2018
- Greater Anteroposterior Default Mode Network Functional Connectivity in Long-Term Elderly Yoga Practitioners Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience July 2, 2019
and 24 more in the library