A woman sits cross-legged, arms outstretched, with a relaxed expression on her face and a slight smile on her lips.

Study on the effect of yoga on the GABA neurotransmitter

Chris C Streeter et al.

November 2010

Mental health

Yoga & hiking

The universities of Boston, Harvard and Utah compared the effects of yoga and hiking on mood, anxiety and gamma-amino-butyric acid (GABA) levels.

Healthy volunteers were randomly divided into a yoga group (n = 19) and a walking group (n = 15) and exercised for 60 minutes three times a week over a period of twelve weeks. Mood and anxiety were assessed at baseline and in the fourth, eighth and twelfth week and before each magnetic resonance spectroscopy scan, i.e. at baseline, after the twelve-week therapy and after the 60-minute yoga or walking activity immediately following the therapy.

The yoga subjects reported a greater improvement in mood and decrease in anxiety than those in the walking group. The improved mood correlated with the higher GABA concentration of the yoga group, which proves that a higher GABA level reduces anxiety and increases well-being. Yoga therefore has a positive influence on mood.

The most important information on the study at a glance

Indications: Mood, anxiety, concentration disorder
Institution: Division of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, 85 East Newton Street, Boston, MA 02118, USA
Title: Study on the effect of yoga on the GABA neurotransmitter
Brief description: Study shows that yoga improves mood, reduces anxiety and correlates with higher GABA levels compared to walking.
Original title: Effects of Yoga Versus Walking on Mood, Anxiety, and Brain GABA Levels: A Randomized Controlled MRS Study
Link to the study: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20722471/