Theoretical exploration of yogic and parapsychological correlations: A Neuropsychological perspective based on teachings of the Haṭha Yoga Pradīpikā
World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews May 8, 2026 SNL Narathota, Karunaratne H.k.b.m.s.
Yogic practices described in the Haṭha Yoga Pradīpikā, such as Prāṇāyāma, Mudrā, Bandha, and Meditation, enhance attentional control, autonomic regulation, and neural integration. These practices parallel neuroscientific findings including vagal modulation through breathing, reduced default mode network activity, and increased gamma synchrony during meditation. Yogic descriptions of heightened intuition and expanded cognition show similarities with phenomena discussed in parapsychology, though these remain debated. Emerging models like predictive processing provide tentative explanations for such experiences. The review highlights significant conceptual overlaps across traditions, suggesting that improved attention and autonomic stability underlie altered states of consciousness, but methodological and epistemological differences require cautious interpretation and further interdisciplinary research.