Improved Memory and Yoga

What research question is being addressed by the researcher(s) in this study? Answer in a single sentence offered in the form of a question. The research question is the question that the scientists who conducted the study investigated.

Is yoga better for memory than brain training?

This inquiry is regarding the information in the article. What were the study’s findings or outcomes? In other words, how were the variables discovered to be linked? The findings are based on what was discovered with the study’s participants. They’re written in the past tense. Present the findings by paraphrasing the article’s statements. Do not cite.  The group, which participated in the yoga and meditation course, had a better improvement in visual-spatial memory than the group which practiced memory-training exercises. This kind of memory is the one, utilized to recall locations and traverse when riding or driving. The yoga team also had a better result when checking lowering of anxiety and depression symptoms. However, both groups recorded same level of improvement in verbal memory. This type is the one utilized in remembering names and words.

What are some inferences (i.e., general conclusions) based upon the results? Conclusions are about people in general and the variables as they occur in the real world. They go beyond the specific participants studied and the specific measures used in the study. They are stated in the present tense. Paraphrase the relevant statements from the article, or present your own conclusions by modifying the findings into general statements.

Yoga is more beneficial in making one age well than just practicing memory-training exercises. The type of yoga, which entails chanting and visualization, strengthens skills used for verbalizing and visualizing. It also improves one’s attention. The type of yoga, which was utilized in this study, also stimulates the amount of brain-derived neurotrophic growth factor produced. This is protein, which enhances connections for neurons.

What assumptions are being made when going from the results to the conclusions; that is when going from what happened with the participants in the study to what is true of people in general? Two basic assumptions of all psychological research are that (1) the participants represent a general population of interest and (2) that the measures of the variables are valid.  The second assumption means that the measurement tool used accurately measured the variable being studied (for example, the scale that was used accurately measured each participant’s true weight). Apply these two assumptions to the study in one statement for each.

25 grown-ups aged 55 years and above described in this study represent all the people with mild cognitive impairment at this age. The study also assumes that the findings of the research are accurate reflections of the relationship between yoga and memory improvement.

What implications emerge from the conclusions? Implications are far-reaching consequences. They go beyond the conclusions. Implications are about what could be done or should be done if the conclusions are accepted as true. For this question, do not evaluate the validity of the conclusions and discuss limitations of the study. Instead, focus on what is important about the study if the conclusions are accepted as being valid.  Answer in one or two sentences.

More people with mild cognitive impairment should be encouraged to take part in yoga since it can improve people’s memory better than brain training.