SU105. Mechanisms of Yoga in Schizophrenia: Focus on Mirror Neuron Activity

Abstract

Background: Schizophrenia is associated with positive symptoms, negative symptoms, and defcits in neurocognition as well as social cognition. Defcits in social cognition are more closely linked to functional outcome than general/nonsocial cognitive defcits. The “mirror-neuron system” is the substrate for social cognition and is shown to have diminished activation in schizophrenia. Of late, yoga been identifed as a therapy across many psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia. Recent understanding of mechanism of yoga in improving negative symptoms of schizophrenia could be due to enhancement of mirror neuron activation (MNA). Methods: Schizophrenia patients were offered add-on yoga therapy with ongoing medication. Subjects in yoga group underwent supervised yoga therapy for 1 month (20 sessions, 1-h duration). The control group included schizophrenia patients who received treatment as usual. Both groups were assessed on PANSS and socio-occupational functioning scale (SOFS) at the beginning and end of 1 month. Mirror neuron activity was assessed using functional Near Infra-Red Spectroscopy (fNIRS) with experimental task (action observation and action execution) before and after 1 month. Statistical analysis was done using R software. Results: There was a signifcantly greater increase in left ventral premotor cortex MNA in yoga therapy group (n = 7) when compared with control group (n = 7) (Mann-Whitney U = 5.0; P =.013). Conclusion: The current study provides preliminary evidence for response to yoga therapy in schizophrenia patients. Observation and imitation of yoga practices may cause changes in the activation of mirror neurons. Future studies need to systematically evaluate the same.