Medical Journal of Mashhad university of Medical Sciences

Medical Journal of Mashhad university of Medical Sciences

Investigating the Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Yoga Exercises Combined with Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) on Working Memory and Attention of Students at Torbat Jam Faculty of Medical Sciences

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
Majid Karamizadeh 1
Zahra Entezari Khorasani 2
Marzie Balali 1
1 Department of sport sciences, CT.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
2 Department of Sport Sciences, CT.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
10.22038/mjms.2026.28136
Abstract
Introduction: The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of mindfulness based yoga training, transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), and their combination on working memory and attention among students of Torbat Jam Faculty of Medical Sciences.

Methods: This quasi experimental study employed a pretest posttest design. Forty five male students aged 18 to 24 years were assigned to three groups of 15: yoga based mindfulness training, tDCS, and a combined intervention (yoga + tDCS). The intervention consisted of 12 sessions (6 weeks, two sessions per week). Working memory was assessed using the N Back test, and attention was measured with the Stroop test. Data were analyzed using paired t tests, analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), and Bonferroni post hoc tests in SPSS 27.

Results: All three interventions significantly improved working memory and attention (p < 0.05). The combined group demonstrated significantly better performance in response time for simpler working memory tasks compared to the other groups. However, no significant differences were observed among the groups for complex working memory tasks or attention (p > 0.05).

Conclusion: The combination of mindfulness based yoga training with tDCS, compared to each intervention alone, accelerated cognitive processing and reduced response time, thereby improving performance in simpler working memory tasks. Nevertheless, this combination did not show a remarkable effect on complex working memory or attention, and all three interventions individually produced significant improvements in these cognitive functions.
Keywords
Working Memory
Attention
Mindfulness Based Yoga
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (Tdcs)
Medical Journal of Mashhad university of Medical Sciences

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 26 July 2026