Effect of Super-Brain Yoga on the Concentrating Ability of Students

Introduction: Frontal and parietal association areas form the neural basis of concentration as evidenced 
by cellular studies of posterior parietal cortex in monkeys. Cerebral asymmetry, an evolutionary 
consequence,enhances brain output by synchronizing both hemispheres for maximal brain output facilitated 
by Super-brain yoga - a simple,effective technique to energize and recharge the brain, assessed with d2 test 
measuring attention, scanning and mental flexibility. 
Aim: To assess the effect of Super-brain yoga on the concentrating ability of students by d2 test. 
Materials and Method: 184 school children aged 11-13 yrs, physically fit & unaware of Super-brain yoga 
formed the study population. 
Methodology: (1) d2 test consisting of: (i) TN: total number of characters (ii) E1: number of characters 
omitted (iii) E2: the number of errors (iv) CP: concentration performance CP = (TN–E2) was performed 
before and after Super-brain yoga to assess students concentrating ability. (2) Super brain yoga/yogic squats 
performed for 1 month. 
Results: ‘p’ value < 0.05 statistical significance with paired ‘t’ test. 
Conclusion: Practicing Super-brain yoga for 1 month increased the concentrating ability of students.


Introduction
Concentration is focusing the mind on a specific issue at a given moment for learning. Frontal and parietal association areas form the neural basis of concentration as evidenced by cellular studies of posterior parietal cortex in monkeys 4 . Super-brain yoga by Master Chao Kok Sui with crossed hands, squatting up and down is thought to increase concentrating ability.
Cerebral asymmetry of human brain is the consequence of evolution. Complementary areas of both hemispheres synchronize for maximal brain output and can be achieved with Super-brain yoga-simple, effective technique to energize and recharge the brain. Human brain has 100 billion brain cells which are technically called as "Neurons" & supporting cells as "Neuroglia". A complex system of neurons, Corpus callosum connects the brain's Right hemisphere/ Representational hemisphere/Non-dominant hemisphere and Left hemisphere/Categorical hemisphere/Dominant hemisphere 10 .
One needs to exercise & nurture the brain just like physical exercise for the body to make the most of this miraculous tool 9 .The output of brain can be enhanced by creating & strengthening the synapse,junction between two neurons, through a physiological mechanism of "Synaptic plasticity". The brain can plasticize to maximal extent during childhood. d2 test of attention is EXECUTIVE FUNCTION TEST,categorized under neuropsychological test. The effect is assessed by d2 test measuring attention, scanning and mental flexibility. The current study focuses on the effectiveness of Super-brain yoga on the concentrating ability of students using d2 test as a key 6 .

Materials and Method
A pre test and post test research design was carried out at Zilla Parishat High School, Hayathnagar, Hyderabad, Telangana. This study was granted approval by the Ethics Committee of Osmania Medical College. In this study, 184 male students of 7 th & 8 th classes were recruited and assigned Super-brain yoga. They were all explained about the study and motivated. Written consent was obtained from the Principal of the school. The students who were physically & unaware of Superbrain yoga and age of 11 to 13 years were included in the study,while students who were practicing Super-brain yoga and suffering with any musculo-skeletal conditions like polio, muscular dystrophies, etc,.were excluded from the study. d2 test consisting of: (i) TN:total number of characters (ii) E1: number of characters omitted (iii) E2:the number of errors (iv) CP:concentration performance CP=(TN-E2) was performed before and after Super-brain yoga to assess students concentrating ability. The test items consist of the letters d and P with one to four dashes, arranged either individually or in pairs above and below the letter. The subject must scan across each line to identify and cross out each d with two dashes. The characters of letter d having 2 dashes above, 2 dashes below and 1 dash above and below (correct hits) are called "relevant items." All other combinations of letters and lines are considered "irrelevant", they should not be crossed out. The one-page d2 test form consists of 14 lines, each with 47 characters, for a total of 658 items. The subject is allowed 20 seconds per line.
The Superbrain yoga described by Master Chao kok Sui was practiced by students at the rate of 14 Yogic squats per day 2 for one month in specific hand position :i) Standing with feet slightly apart, greater than shoulder width and toes pointing forward,facing towards east. ii) Hands are crossed over each other, first left hand is crossed over upper body to take hold of right earlobe with thumb and fore finger, with thumb in front. Then right hand is crossed over left 5 . iii) While squatting down inhale through nose, hold the breath and exhale while coming back to standing position.

Statistical Analysis:
Mean & standard deviation for all d2 test parameters were derived with paired 't' test 'p' value <0.05 was considered statistically significant and <0.001 as statistically highly significant.

Results
'p' value from paired 't' test is highly significant for all the variables of d2 test for selective attention.

Discussion
The present study reveals a significant improvement in concentration & selective attention of students after doing Super-brain yoga with 'p' value of 0.001 significance for all d2 test parameters. There is significance for all d2 test parameters (p = 0.001). This is in agreement with "A comparative study of the effects of Super-brain Yoga & aerobic exercise on cognitive functions" the study done by Joseph Irvin Thomas, Venkatesh D 2 and study done by Srikanth N Jois, Lancy D' Souza, R Moulya on beneficial effects of Super-brain yoga on short term memory & selective attention of students 7 .
In the current study all measures of d2 test of selective attention with 'p' value of 0.001statistical significance correlates with "Effect of repetitive yogic squats with specific hand position (Thoppukarnam) on selective attention 7    The neural basis of concentration lies between the frontal and parietal association areas. When Super-brain yoga is practiced it is thought that, strengthening of synapses occur by physiological mechanism of synaptic plasticity due to increased synchronized firing rates of neurons within attentional networks and Corpus callosum as well which is responsible for synchronization of the two hemispheres giving out maximal output of the brain.
Master Choa kok Sui explains that the Super-brain yoga -YOGIC SQUATS when done correctly moves energy trapped in the basic chakras through the physical body's other major energy centers and finally up into the crown chakra that controls the pineal gland and overall brain health 1,2 . "Once the energy gets up to the forehead and crown chakras, it is transformed into subtle energy, which is utilized by the brain for its proper functioning," writes Master Choa kok Sui.
Jeremy Vanhelst et al., conducted a study on "Physical activity is associated with attention capacity in adolesecents 13 " concluded that promoting Moderateto-vigorous physical activity may be have a beneficial effect on attention capacity in adolescents. In the present study students doing regular exercise were not excluded as exercise was part of their regular school schedule. Further a study comparing both Super-brain yoga and moderate exercise is to be done.

Conclusion
Instituting Super-brain yoga for one month are effective in enhancing concentrating ability of students as evidenced by:  14. John E. Hall. Guyton and Hall Textbook of Medical physiology 13 th edition.