Barbora Decourten

Oxytocin and soma: A neurobiological hypothesis linking vedic descriptions of higher states of consciousness to social neuroendocrinology.

Psychology of Consciousness Theory Research and Practice July 9, 2026 Barbora Decourten, Robert Keith Wallace

Soma is a central yet enigmatic concept in Vedic literature, described as a plant or elixir associated with elevated states of consciousness such as refined perception, inner bliss, reduced fear, and a sense of unity, though its biological basis remains unresolved.In a modern reinterpretation, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi proposed that Soma need not be an external substance but may reflect an...