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
A comparative neurophenomenological hypothesis proposes that features attributed to the Vedic concept of Soma—reduced fear, enhanced connectedness, and experiential unity—may correspond to effects of the neuropeptide oxytocin, which modulates social bonding, trust, and stress regulation. The article suggests Soma need not be an external substance but could reflect an internally generated biochemical process during transcendence. It generates testable predictions through endogenous measurement during meditation and experimental oxytocin administration.