A study protocol for a randomized controlled trial on the effect of Surya Nadi Pranayama practice on cognitive abilities in school children

Abstract

Background Surya Nadi Pranayama is a yogic breathing technique that involves controlled breathing through the right nostril. The study aims to evaluate the effects of the 20-min practice of Surya Nadi pranayama (4 weeks) on cognition among schoolchildren, comparing it to observing a normal breathing pattern. Methods A randomized control study design will be adopted for this study with 100 school children with 12–16 years of age, will be recruited. Subjects will be randomly divided into the study and control groups. The study group will be advised to practice Surya Nadi Pranayama (n = 50), whereas the control group (n = 50) will be asked to relax in a sitting posture between 9 am and 10 am, Monday to Friday, for 20 min daily over 30 days. Results A baseline and post-intervention assessment will be performed for all the subjects a day before and after the intervention. The primary outcome measures are visual reaction time and auditory reaction time. The secondary outcome is critical flicker fusion frequency. Conclusion The potential benefits of this yogic breathing technique and the findings of this research may contribute to the development of interventions aimed at improving cognitive functioning in school-aged children. The study is prospectively registered in the Clinical Trial Registry of India (CTRI/2024/05/067441).