Both yoga and physical exercise significantly improved visual reaction time in healthy young adults after 12 weeks, but the reduction in VRT was significantly greater in the yoga group compared to the physical exercise group.
Key Findings
Results
Both yoga and physical exercise groups showed significant post-intervention reductions in mean visual reaction time.
A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 66 healthy medical students aged 18-25 years
Participants were randomly assigned to yoga (n = 33) or physical exercise (n = 33) groups
Both interventions were supervised, five days a week for 12 weeks
Both groups showed significant post-intervention reductions in mean VRT (p < 0.05)
VRT was measured at baseline and post-intervention using a simple reaction timer with Lab Scribe software
Results
The reduction in visual reaction time was significantly greater in the yoga group compared to the physical exercise group.
Between-group comparison revealed a significantly greater reduction in VRT in the yoga group versus the exercise group (p < 0.05)
Both groups consisted of 33 healthy medical students each
The study used a randomized controlled trial design to compare within- and between-group changes
Yoga was described as a structured 12-week program compared to a standard physical exercise regimen
Results
Both interventions indicated enhanced cognitive and neuromotor performance as reflected by improvements in visual reaction time.
Reaction time was described as 'a prime measure of how quickly the brain is able to process information and coordinates a physical response through neuromuscular pathways'
VRT improvements were interpreted as reflecting both cognitive processing speed and motor execution efficiency
Yoga was noted to potentially offer broader benefits in mental clarity and sustained attention
Physical exercise was noted to potentially facilitate quicker psychomotor gains
Background
The study population consisted of healthy medical students in the 18-25 year age range with direct comparisons of yoga and physical exercise on visual reaction time previously being limited.
66 healthy medical students aged 18-25 years were enrolled
The study was identified as addressing a gap where 'direct comparisons of yoga and physical exercise on visual reaction time in healthy young adults are limited'
Participants were randomly assigned to one of two supervised intervention groups
Both interventions ran for 12 weeks at five days per week
Smrithi R, Tejaswini K, Abhishek K, Nayanatara A. (2026). A Comparative Study of Yoga and Physical Exercise on Visual Reaction Time in Healthy Individuals: A Randomized Controlled Trial.. La Clinica terapeutica. https://doi.org/10.7417/CT.2026.1996