EVALUATING THE EFFECT OF JYOTIR TRATAKA AND BINDU TRATAKA ON COGNITIVE FUNCTIONS OF YOUNG ADULTS –A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL

The term "cognitive functioning" describes a variety of mental processes such as learning, reasoning, thinking, remembering, solving problems, making decisions, and paying attention. Attention and memoryare essential aspects of cognitive health.Various aspects of cognition, such as spatial and visual memory scores ,verbal memory, executive functions, attention, and concentration , working memory, response inhibition ,visual attention , and task-switching were found to be positively influenced through yogic practices such as yogasanas, pranayama, and meditation techniques.Memory is an active system that receives information from the senses, puts it into a usable form, organizes it as it stores away, and retrieves the information from the storage. Short-term memory (STM) is a system in which information is held for brief periods while being used. It lasts from about 20 to 30 seconds without rehearsal.After that, the memory seems to rapidly decay or disappear. It (primary memory) involves conscious maintenance of sensory stimuli over a short period even after which they are not present anymore.Short Term Memory is an essential component of cognition as it influences efficient performance of day to day activities.Multistore models differentiate between STM. Regular practice of yoga promotes strength, endurance, flexibility and facilitates characteristics of compassion, greater self-control, while cultivating a sense of calmness and well being.Yoga is a form of mind-body fitness that involves a combination of muscular activity and internally directed mindful focus on awareness of the self, the breath and energy(8).Shatkarma also called as shatkriyas ‘Shat’’ means ‘six ‘and karma means ‘action’ are a series of purifying Hatha Yoga poses for the body that prepares it for the ultimate yoga practice in relation to moksha(liberation).The sansrit, shatkarmas are six actual acts. These practices includes-Dhauti, Nauli, Basti, Kapalabhati and Trataka are referred to as kriya by swatmarama in the Hatha Yoga Pradipika.

Hatha Yoga , is made up of shatkarmas. The aim of the hatha yoga and ,therefore ,of the shatkarma is to create harmony between the two major pranic flows, Ida and pingala, therby attaining physical and mental purification and balance. Trataka, one of the six purification techniques is included in the study. Also called yogic gazing is a practice where the gaze is fixed on an object for some time and then that the object is visualized clearly with the eyes closed, as an inner image at the eyebrow centre. The practice makes eyes bright and clear. It improves the memory and helps to develop good concentration and strong will power Trataka means to gaze steadily .At the physical level it is said to strengthen the eye muscles by exercising them to focus upon a point.Trataka can be performed in two forms-Bindu Trataka and Jyotir Trataka.In Bindu Trataka a dot is made on paper and placed at an appropriate distance and the practitioner is advised to focus on that bindu until tear starts coming from his/her eyes ,Bindu trataka is easy to focus on something which is not illuminated and rather provides a soothing effect to the eyes.In Jyotir trataka the practitioner is advised to gaze at the candle light until tear starts coming from his/her eyes. The overindulgence in digital media has become a major social Issue, and its profound impact on our daily routines and lifestyle choices has been acknowledged by everybody. Furthermore, the bulk of social media users are young adults 84% of adults between the ages of 18 and 29 report having downloaded a social networking app, according to the Pew Research Centre. Users of this kind of media receive a dopamine reward when they swipe and scroll, which over time builds an addiction pathway that impairs impulse control in the prefrontal brain. The desire to continue scrolling or open Instagram during a boring meeting is caused by a combination of inhibition and dopamine. This is especially true for persons under the age of twenty-one, whose developing prefrontal cortices make them more prone to dopamine surges and impulsivity . Research suggests trataka technique increases selective attention, cognitive flexibility, and response inhibition. Yoga practice was found to be better than physical exercises in improving cognitive functions.In this study we have selected college going students of age 18 to 25 years as they need better Cognition functions .