Post-training Meditation Promotes Motor Memory Consolidation.
Level 3 - non-randomized controlled study
Controlled experimental trial without reported randomization
PubMed 27847492 · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2016.01698
What was done
Twelve adult residents of a yoga center with an average of 9 years of meditation experience were trained on a sequence key-pressing task. Three hours post-training, one group completed 30 minutes of yoga nidra meditation while a control group completed 30 minutes of light work duties. Following a 4.5-hour wakeful retention period, both groups were tested on trained and untrained key-press sequences to assess motor memory stabilization versus general performance gains.
What was found
Initial training performance showed no significant difference between groups. At post-test, the meditation group showed a performance benefit compared to the control group that was specific to trained sequences only. The abstract reports no numerical values, test statistics, or effect sizes.
Why it matters
This provides initial preliminary evidence that post-training wakeful meditation states like yoga nidra may facilitate motor memory stabilization rather than general non-specific performance enhancement.
Limits
The sample size is very small (n = 12), and the abstract does not specify whether participants were randomized. The study population was highly selected (experienced meditators living in a yoga center), limiting generalizability. No numerical figures or p-values are provided in the abstract.
Cited by
- supports Yoga nidra and similar practices can improve rates of learning.