Table 1_How yoga shapes the brain: a systematic review.docx

A 2026 systematic review synthesizes findings from 23 international peer-reviewed neuroimaging studies on healthy participants, examining yoga's effects on the brain. The review, authored by Laura Stoelers, analyzes studies selected from 216 results on Web of Science, PubMed, and PsycInfo. It employs data from studies using MRI, fMRI, and EEG techniques to assess impacts on stress, neurotransmitters, cerebral blood flow, and brain structure.

Use Cases

• Conducting a meta-analysis on yoga's neurological effects based on the synthesis of 23 studies.
• Identifying research gaps in neuroimaging study designs for mind-body practices based on the reviewed heterogeneity.
• Analyzing the relationship between yoga practice and brain structure changes based on MRI and fMRI data mentioned in the review.
• Comparing neurophysiological outcomes from yoga versus meditation based on the discussion of definitional distinctions.

Strengths

• Focuses on 23 peer-reviewed neuroimaging studies, providing a defined scope for analysis.
• Sources studies from three major academic databases: Web of Science, PubMed, and PsycInfo.
• Explicitly includes studies using multiple techniques: MRI, fMRI, and EEG.

Limitations

• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• The review notes heterogeneity in results due to differences in sample characteristics, study designs, and yoga definitions.

Provenance

Source

figshare, author Laura Stoelers.

Collection Method

Systematic review of literature from academic databases with defined inclusion/exclusion criteria.

Time Range

Covers studies up to the date of the review's publication.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-04-13 05:47:25; freshness should be verified.

Geography

International studies, no specific geographic focus stated.