Yoga and Aerobic Exercise Effects on Cognition

This is a computerized task measuring the working memory domain of cognition. The task had 3 conditions, namely, 0-back, 1-back and 2-back. Participants are presented with a series of stimuli one after the other. They have to decide whether the stimulus currently presented is the same as the stimulus presented "n" items before. For the 1-back task, participants have to decide whether the stimulus matches the stimulus presented 1 earlier. For the 2- back task, they have to decide whether the stimulus matches the stimulus presented 2 earlier. Reaction time and accuracy of the response are recorded.

This is a paper pencil task having 2 parts- Trails A and Trails B, with Trails B being more complex. In Trails A, there are 25 circles on a piece of paper numbered 1-25. Participants have to join these numbers in ascending order, as quickly as they can, without lifting their pencil. In Trails B, the participants have to join 25 circles in an ascending order, but they have to alternate between numbers and letters (1-A-2-B-3-C). Time to complete the task correctly is recorded.

In this task, participants are presented with a code key, in which numbers 1-9 are matched with a unique symbol. Then, they are presented with a sheet of paper having a series of symbols on it. Using the codekey, participants have to read aloud, the numbers that the symbols are associated with, in 2 minutes. The accuracy is recorded.

This questionnaire has 20 items for assessing state anxiety. Participants respond on a 4-point scale ("Not at all" to "Very much so"). Composite is calculated by summing the items. Range: 20 (min) - 80 (max). Higher scores indicate greater anxiety.

Participants have to indicate how stressed they are currently feeling on a scale ranging from 0 (none) to 100 (as bad as it gets). Higher scores mean more stress.

Participants self rate their present moment feelings on a scale from 1 - 5 (1=not true at all, 5=very true) yielding a mean score across all 7 items, with higher scores indicating greater mental fatigue. Range for composite score: 1 (min) - 5 (max).

Participants are asked to self rate (1 item) their focus of attention while engaged in the previous activity. Responses range from 0 (Internal thoughts) to 10 (external thoughts), with higher scores representing external focus of attention. Range: 0 (min)- 10 (max).

This scale measures how a participant is feeling at the present moment (valence) after a bout of exercise. It is an 11-point one-item measure ranging from +5 (very good) to -5 (very bad). Higher scores represent positive affect. Range: -55 (min) to 55 (max).

Participants' heart rate will be measured using an oxymeter.

Participants are asked to self rate their feeling of exertion on a 1-item question (11 point scale), ranging from 6 (no exertion) to 20 (maximal exertion), for the activity they were engaged in during the intervention. Range: 6 (min) to 20 (max).

Participants will rate their enjoyment in terms of the delivery method and the intervention. This will include questions such as 'Did you like the video instruction for sun salutations?', 'Would you recommend this activity to your family and friends?' Participants had a dichotomous response choice of "yes" or "no". A composite score was calculated as an average across X items. Range of the composite score: 0 to 1. A higher score indicates higher enjoyment.

Participants from the yoga group only will rate the technology used to deliver the intervention, in terms of its ease of use and usability. The items are based on the Technology Acceptance Model and will include questions such as 'The Yoga video was clear and understandable.' Response ranges from 1 to 6, and a composite score is reported as an average of the responses. Range of the composite score: 1 (min) - 6 (max). Higher scores represent better technology usability.