European Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine

Human brain is powerful and complex organ with many neuronal connections. It is even so more sophisticated than any existing computer. There are around 86 million neurons in human brain. The output of the brain can be improved by increasing and strengthening synapse between the neurons through synaptic plasticity.

Many yogic practices are studied and practiced to improve brain capacity, one amongst them is Super brain Yoga. It is a very simple and yet effective technique to energize and recharge the brain cells. It is based on the theory of subtle energy called -prana and ear acupuncture. It was first popularized by Master Choa Kok Sui  to recharge and energize the brain.¹ 

It is performed by holding the ear lobes with the fingers by placing hands across the chest and involves 14 squats with recommended breathing.  SBY  is simple yet effective method  which gives benefits not only for students, but also for adults seeking holistic wellbeing. The Super brain  exercise  cleans and energizes the energy centres called chakras, needed for the brain to function efficiently. When the energy from the lower chakras move upward, they are turned into “pranic” energy of spirituality. Since the upper chakras controls and energizes the brain, the pranic energy is utilized for energizing the brain for its proper functioning.²

Selective attention: Selective attention  is  a cognitive process of focusing on a particular object or stimuli for sometime while simultaneously ignoring distractions and irrelevant information. Selective attention allows us to tune out insignificant details and focus on what is important. People with short attention span may have trouble focusing on tasks for any length of time without being easily distracted. A short attention span can have several negative effects including poor performance at work or school, inability to complete daily tasks, missing important details of information.³

In the present times, the attention span of  children has become limited due to constant multitasking, flight of ideas, excessive usage of phones and other electronic devices. Improving  attention span is important for filtering out unimportant stimulus from important stimulus. This can also go a long way in improving their academics and mental health. As there are less studies which have shown the effect of SBY on selective attention span of students, the present study aims to find the effect of Super brain yoga on attention span of adolescent male students.

The study was conducted among school children of Government School Nituvalli, Davangere.  The study was initiated after approval from the institutional ethics committee of JJM Medical college Davangere.  40 male Children in the age group of 14 -16 yrs who were unaware of Super brain yoga and who were interested in this yoga were included in the study. Children who were already practicing other yogas, Children having any psychological ailments, musculo-skeletal disorders like polio, muscular dystrophies were excluded from this study.

Methodology:  In this study “d 2” test was used to assess the attention span of 40 adolescent males of 14-16yrs age group.  “d 2” test was done two times on children. Initially, test was done before they practice Super brain yoga and later it was done after one month practice of SBY.

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)³.Test will be performed before and after Super brain yoga for one month to assess children attention span. 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. One page d2 test consists of 14 lines. The subject is allowed 20 seconds per line. Results are obtained according to formula mentioned above. Statistical analysis was done by paired ‘t’ test. ‘p’ value <0.05 is considered as significant. ‘p’ value< 0.001 is considered as highly significant.

Procedure of super brain yoga

* Stand straight Facing to east side, with  your feet shoulder width apart.

* Tongue should be curled in the inward direction and press it tightly towards the roof of your mouth.

*Preferably invoke for divine blessings.

* Pinch the right ear lobe with your left thumb and left index finger.

*Also pinch the left ear lobe with your right thumb and right index finger.

*The left arm should be inside and the right arm should be outside. This is the correct arm position.

*When squatting down, inhale simultaneously. This breathing must be followed and must not be changed.

*When standing up exhale simultaneously.

* Do 14 squats per session. Do this asana once daily for one month.

* Liberate your ears, remise your arms loose by your sides and disjoin tongue from roof of mouth.

And in last, Say a short prayer of thanks giving ¹.

Practice of Super brain yoga was done in school premises with the help of a Yoga teacher and school teacher. Children used to practice SBY everyday   after the class hours around 4.30pm. Children practiced SBY for 6 days in a week for one month.

The present study revealed a significant improvement in  attention span of students after doing Super-brain yoga with ‘p’ value of < 0.001 significance for all d2 test parameters.

  Table: Comparison of  d2 Test parameters before and after Super brain yoga

HS= Highly significant

TN: Total attempted      E1: Number of letters omitted

E2: Errors                      CP(TN-E2) Concentration performance

The present study reveals a significant improvement in attention span of  adolescent males. This is in consistent with the 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 ⁴ and  study done by Angelica Chandrasekaran et al. on “Effect of repetitive yogic squats with specific hand position (Thoppukarnam) on selective attention  & psychological states” ⁵. Similarly in the  study done by G. Aniruddha et al on  effect of super brain yoga on the concentration ability of students there was significant improvement in all the parameters of d2 test with p value of 0.001³  

SBY was described by Master Choa Kok Sui the founder of Pranic healing movement. He has given this technique to optimize brain wellness. It is a form of exercise designed to help students and adults to make learning easier. It is a modified form of Ganeshasana or Thoppukaranam  practiced anciently by our Great Indian Rishis.¹ In Ganeshasana or Thoppukaranam, devotees hold earlobes between thumb and forefinger with hands crossed infront of chest and perform repetitive squats of 18 or 108 or 1008.⁴  It has been used in the form of  punishment  for  poor scores and misbehaviours in schools.

SBY is mainly based on the principles of  Ear acupuncture,  Pranic energy movement in Chakras of the body and enhanced alpha waves with synchronized brain hemispheres. ¹

In auriculotherapy, ear is believed to correspond to whole body in shape of an inverted fetus curled in womb and the earlobe stands for the head.⁶ The squat requires squeezing one’s earlobes with thumb and forefinger in proper position. Acupressure energy points for the brain-pineal gland pituitary gland, eyes, forehead, mouth are  concentrated around the area of the ear are affected by pressure from this exercise. So holding the ear lobes during SYB stimulates the head region.¹ 

Master Choa Kok Sui explains that the Super brain squat when done correctly moves energy trapped in the basic and sex chakras through the physical body’s and finally up into the crown chakra  that controls the pineal gland and overall brain health. As the energy moves upward and fills the heart energy center, the student is filled with love and experiences inner peace or calm. When the energy moves up further into the throat and ajna energy centers, the student’s intelligence and creativity are enhanced. Once the energy gets up to the forehead and crown chakras, it is transformed into subtle pranic energy, which is utilized by the brain for its proper functioning. ¹

Regular practice of SBY causes enhanced alpha waves in the brain with synchronization of both brain hemispheres. When the brain waves are in an alpha state, an individual is calm and alert.  Increase in alpha waves activity also causes long-term improvement in memory functioning, perceptiveness, speed of information processing, decision-making and problem-solving ability.⁷ SBA technique also brings about synchronization of the left and right brain hemispheres and brain integration. When the brain is in an integrated state, it can perform higher-order functions by using resources of both the hemispheres. Increase in selective attention of students in this study could be explained due to increase in alpha activity of the brain and synchronization of the left and right brain hemispheres. When the brain waves are in an Alpha state, students are more calm, relaxed and alert. This helps them to  pay attention, focus, gain knowledge and remember.^8,9

SBY can also be viewed from the point of it being a physical exercise.³ Numerous scientific studies have shown that there is a positive effect on attention, cognitive performance and overall brain function by practice of any forms of physical activities. Several studies done on SBY in school children have shown that it was effective in reducing symptoms of autism¹⁰, speech delay¹¹ and attention deficit hyperactive disorder¹². Other studies on same yoga have reported  improvement in short term memory and selective attention³, confidence¹³, school attendance¹⁰, reduction in mind wondering ¹⁴. Studies have also proved that there is an increase in visio-spatial ability, brain perception among school children^15,16.

In a case study on adolescent student, behavior modification and SBY were found to be efficient in treating mathematics anxiety¹⁷. In a study on medical students , SBY  had a positive impact on attention control and working memory when compared to controls doing simple squats exercise¹⁸.

Outcome of study should be considered in the light of some study limitations such as, only males were recruited foe the study and the sample size  may not be sufficient to generalize to large group of population. Long term sustenance of results needs to be assessed.

Super brain yoga is easy, cost effective technique to improve the students academics, social behavior and holistic development.  In the present era of competitive world students are eager to learn many things at a time, where attention span becomes important. Adapting SBY in their curriculum will make their academics and extracurricular activities easier. Schools can use this simple technique every day to improve the cognitive functioning of the students and to help students with academics and performance.  It can be taken as a form of exercise which can decrease the proneness to obesity issue and physical ailments. This  Simple form of yoga is a welcome break from routine activities and they will also enjoy the additional benefits of improved concentration, learning and memory.

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