The Neural Impacts of Sanskrit and Vedic Learning

Abstract

This study investigates how learning and chanting Sanskrit hymns and Vedic scriptures may influence

brain structure and neurobehavioral functioning in individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD),

using a systematic review and an observational parent survey. A systematic literature review (using

PubMed, Google Scholar, and NIH) synthesized findings from 16 peer‑reviewed studies spanning: (i)

direct Sanskrit/Vedic chanting in highly trained non‑autistic priests and scholars, and (ii) interventions

in autistic populations involving Vedic chants, music, rhythm‑based activities, or pragmatic language

therapy. In non‑ASD experts, long‑term Sanskrit/Vedic chanting has been associated with increased

grey and white matter density, greater cortical thickness, and altered gyrification in temporal,

orbitofrontal, and memory‑related regions, alongside enhanced verbal memory. In autistic

populations, Vedic chant programs and related rhythm‑ and language‑based interventions have been

reported to reduce anxiety and hyperactivity; improve attention, social communication, and motor

coordination; and support behavioral regulation, consistent with broader literature on language

learning, bilingual exposure, and neuroplasticity in ASD. To examine real‑world relevance, an

observational survey was administered to parents of 18 autistic children and adolescents (5–18+

years) engaged in regular Sanskrit/Vedic chanting. Parents provided retrospective before‑and‑after

ratings across 13 health‑related aspects; average scores increased across all domains, with the most

notable perceived improvements in attention/focus, memory, mood, reduced anxiety/stress, and

growth/adaptability. Correlational analyses suggested that greater weekly engagement and longer

exposure duration were moderately associated with more favorable cognitive, emotional, and

autonomic outcomes. Converging evidence from prior studies and parent‑reported data suggests that

the phonetic, rhythmic, and prosodic features of Sanskrit/Vedic chanting may support neuroplastic,

cognitive, and emotional functioning in ASD, tentatively positioning it as a promising, low‑cost,

culturally rooted therapeutic candidate. However, findings are preliminary due to small,

heterogeneous samples, reliance on parent‑reported outcomes, and limited ASD‑specific

neuroimaging, underscoring the need for controlled, longitudinal, mechanistic research.