Scientists completed a study on adults. These participants underwent cognitive (thinking) tests and brains were scanned. The participants were then were divided into two groups.

One group underwent a brain-training program and the other group was taught yoga, which involved breathing exercises, physical movements and guided meditation. Both programs were run over 12 weeks.

After the 12 weeks were completed, participants in both groups underwent another round of cognitive tests and brain scans.

Participants from both groups improved on cognitive tests, but the yoga participants also had improved moods, better postural balance, improved depth perception and greater ability to navigate around unknown places and recognize objects.

Both groups also displayed improved communication between the brain parts relating to memory and language, but only the yoga participants showed improved communication in the brain regions that control attention.

This finding demonstrated that yoga was more beneficial to the brain than regular cognitive training.