Comparison of Psychoacoustic Measures in Individuals Who Practice Yoga and Who Don’t Practice Yoga

Abstract

Introduction: It has been shown that performing yoga in certain postures is known to circulate more amount of oxygenated blood to the cochlea and there by reduces the aging process and strengthens the efferent auditory system, potentially leading to better speech perception in noise and improved threshold and intensity discrimination. There are limited number of studies done on yoga and its effect on few psychoacoustical measures (frequency, intensity & duration discrimination). Aim: The current study was aimed to determine the effect of yoga on few psychoacoustical measures (frequency, intensity & duration discrimination abilities) in older adults aged 50 – 65 years. Methods: A total of 40 participants were selected for the study and these participants were divided into two groups. Group 1 (experimental group) included those individuals who practiced yoga for minimum duration of at least 2 years and Group 2 (control group) included those individuals who have not practiced yoga. All the psychoacoustic tests such as Difference Limen Frequency (DLF), Difference Limen Intensity (DLI) and Difference Limen Duration (DLT) were carried out using mlp toolbox, which implements a maximum likelihood procedure for threshold estimation in Matlab (Grassi & amp; Soranzo, 2009). In all the psychoacoustic tests, stimuli were presented binaurally at an intensity of 70 dB SPL. Three alternative forced choice method was used to track a 79.4% correct response criterion. In this two blocks had the standard stimulus and one block had variable stimulus. The participant’s task was to identify the variable frequency. Results: From the results of the current study it can be observed that the experimental group (older adults who practiced yoga regularly) had lower mean threshold (better) for psychoacoustic abilities i.e., difference limen for intensity (DLI), difference limen for frequency (DLF) and difference limen for duration (DLT) at all the four frequencies i.e., 500 Hz, 1000 Hz, 2000 Hz & 4000 Hz when compared to control group (older adults who did not practice yoga). The DLI, DLF and DLT obtained were found to be significantly better in older adults who practice yoga. The mean thresholds for DLI, DLF & DLT were smaller in low frequency and threshold increased as the frequency increased in both the groups. Conclusions: The older adults who practiced yoga were able to detect smaller changes in intensity, frequency and duration compared to those older adults who did not practice yoga. It provides information about the positive effects of practicing yoga on psychoacoustic abilities in older adults. Yoga can be suggested as a therapeutic management option for improving psychoacoustic abilities in desired clinical population.