Spatial
and Verbal Memory Test Scores Following Yoga and Fine Arts Camps
for School Children
Manjunath N. K. and Shirley Telles*
Swami
Vivekananda Yoga Research Foundation,
No. 9,
Appajappa Agrahara, Chamarajpet,
Bangalore – 560 018
( Received on May 27, 2003)
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Abstract : The performance scores of children (aged 11 to 16
years) in verbal and spatial memory tests were compared for two
groups (n = 30, each), one attending a yoga camp and the other a
fine arts camp. Both groups were assessed on the memory tasks
initially and after ten days of their respective interventions. A
control group (n = 30) was similarly studied to assess the test –
retest effect. At the final assessment the yoga group showed a
significant increase of 43% in spatial memory scores (Multivariate
analysis, Tukey test), while the fine arts and control groups
showed no change. The results suggest that yoga practice,
including physical postures, yoga breathing, meditation and guided
relaxation improved delayed recall of spatial information.
Key words : yoga
fine arts
spatial memory
verbal memory
