Yoga can Alter the Autonomic Neural Activity: A Critical Analysis

Background: Modern lifestyle leads to a greater psychotechnological stress and which results in an increase in autonomic imbalances. This predicts disturbance of the normal mental state and cognition. The current researchers have found clear relationship between yoga practice and parasympathetic dominance. Objective: The purpose of the review study is to analyze the scientific literature related to yoga and autonomic neural responses. Methods: Researchers of the study collected scientific evidences through electronic online databases; PubMed, Embase, Medline, Google scholar, Web of science, PsycINFO, Shodhganga; Europe PMC; Scopus and critically analyzed all the relevant articles according to the purpose of this study. After the exhaustive search and selecting the studies on the basis of inclusion criteria, 11 full text articles of galvanic skin resistance and 75 articles related to autonomic function were shortlisted for qualitative analysis. Results: Yogic practices including meditation, pranayama, asana and integrated yoga increase the high-frequency band and decrease the low-frequency band of the heart rate variability spectrum, and this reduces the stress via limbic activity and increases the better psychophysiological relaxation. Conclusion: Yogic practice may enhance the vagal activity which influences autonomic flexibility.