Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Aug 16: Scholars and neuroscientists have long praised India’s ancient tradition of Sanskrit chanting, and recent studies reveal it could significantly enhance brain function. Research by neuroscientist Dr. James Hartzell and a similar study at AIIMS on the Gayatri Mantra have shown that structured, long-term Sanskrit recitation can increase grey matter in the brain by over 10% and improve cognitive abilities.

Dr Hartzell’s team studied 21 Vedic pandits who had been trained since childhood to memorize vast Sanskrit scriptures like the Shukla Yajurveda, focusing on perfect pronunciation, rhythm, pitch, and tonal variation. MRI scans revealed enlargement in the right hippocampus, responsible for memory formation and spatial navigation, and a thicker right temporal cortex, which processes sound, speech, and voice recognition.

The findings, termed the “Sanskrit Effect,” suggest that daily chanting strengthens key brain areas, improves mental focus, and promotes neuroplasticity—the brain’s ability to adapt and rewire itself. While Sanskrit is not a magical language, its recitation engages memory, motor control, and attention, offering potential cognitive benefits for people of all ages and serving as a preventative measure against memory decline and age-related disorders like dementia.

In Dr. Hartzell’s words, the Sanskrit Effect demonstrates the brain’s ability to grow through focused, long-term mental practice, highlighting a powerful intersection of tradition and science.