The ancient concept of Kundalini, with its rich tapestry of serpents, chakras, and divine union, can seem esoteric and far removed from our modern understanding of the human body. However, when viewed through the lens of contemporary neuroscience, this spiritual framework reveals itself to be a sophisticated and remarkably accurate map of our own nervous system and its profound potential for self-regulation.
Disclaimer: This is merely my personal take on how the Kundalini could potentially be explained from a scientific perspective. Treat it as a guess, not a definitive answer.
From Esotericism to Science
The Kundalini process is a model for achieving internal homeostasis and mental peace, which correspond to spiritual enlightenment. A neuro-spiritual translation does not seek to disprove the mystical experience but to understand its physiological underpinnings. In this model, the ancient language of energy is translated into the modern language of biology, revealing that the path to enlightenment is also a path of profound neurological integration and mastery.
The Autonomic Nervous System
The Kundalini trajectory maps onto the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS), the subconscious regulator of homeostasis. This regulation is often framed through the Polyvagal Theory, which categorizes autonomic states into the primitive Dorsal Vagal Complex (immobilization/shutdown) and the evolved Ventral Vagal Complex (social engagement). While neuroanatomically debated, this framework provides a functional model for understanding how the vagus nerve modulates the transition from stress (sympathetic arousal) to safety (parasympathetic restoration).
Ida and Pingala as the PNS and SNS
Yogic texts describe two primary energy channels that spiral around the central axis: the Ida (lunar, cooling, feminine) and the Pingala (solar, heating, masculine). These are a perfect physiological match for the two main branches of the ANS:
- The Parasympathetic Nervous System (PNS) is the “rest-and-digest” system. It is our braking system, responsible for calm, healing, and recovery. This is the physiological equivalent of the cooling Ida nadi.
- The Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS) is the “fight-or-flight” system. It is our accelerator, mobilizing the body for action and stress. This is the physiological equivalent of the heating Pingala nadi.
A state of health is a dynamic balance between these two systems. Spiritual practices that focus on balancing Ida and Pingala are, in essence, training the practitioner to achieve autonomic homeostasis.
Sushumna as the Central Channel: The Vagus Nerve and Spine
The objective of balancing the PNS and SNS is to channel excitation into the Sushumna, or central channel. Anatomically, this correlates with the central canal of the spinal cord and the subarachnoid space filled with Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF). While the vagus nerve acts as the primary regulator of the parasympathetic state required for this process, the Sushumna itself represents the central axis of the Central Nervous System (CNS). Practices that “activate Sushumna” amplify CSF oscillation, entraining the brainstem and limbic system into a state of coherence.
Chakras as Glands, Organs, and Neural Plexuses
The seven chakras, or energy centers, align with uncanny precision to the major nerve clusters (plexuses) and endocrine glands along the spinal axis. They can be understood as major hubs of neurobiological activity.
The Lower Centers: The “Second Brain” and Survival Instincts
The lower three chakras govern our primal functions and are deeply intertwined with the Enteric Nervous System (ENS), the “second brain” in our gut.
- The solar plexus chakra (Manipura) corresponds directly to the solar plexus (or celiac plexus) of nerves and the bulk of the ENS. It innervates the digestive organs and is linked to the adrenal glands, which regulate our stress response (cortisol) and metabolism. This makes it the seat of personal power and “gut feelings.” This region synthesizes most of the body’s serotonin, a neurotransmitter critical for mood regulation and signal transmission between the Enteric Nervous System and the brain.
- The sacral chakra (Svadhisthana) aligns with the sacral plexus, which innervates the reproductive organs and bladder, as well as the gonads (ovaries/testes). It governs our emotions, sexuality, and creativity.
- The root or base chakra (Muladhara) correlates to the base of the spine, the coccygeal plexus, and the perineum. This is the foundation of the nervous system, controlling our primal survival functions and our physical sense of being grounded.
The Upper Centers: The Heart-Brain and Higher Consciousness
The upper chakras correspond to our more refined and integrative functions.
- The heart chakra (Anahata) aligns with the cardiac plexus, the cluster of nerves regulating the heart, and the thymus gland, a key component of the immune system. The strong influence of the vagus nerve on this center makes it a hub for emotional regulation and compassion.
- The throat chakra (Vishuddha) corresponds to the cervical plexus of nerves and the thyroid and parathyroid glands, governing communication, vocal expression, and metabolic regulation.
- The third eye chakra (Ajna) and crown chakra (Sahasrara) correlate to the master glands of the brain—the pituitary and pineal glands—and the highly evolved prefrontal cortex. These centers govern our perception, intuition, and the integrated, holistic consciousness that defines our sense of unity. The thalamus also plays a critical role here, acting as a relay station that creates the “gate” for sensory information reaching the cortex.
Kundalini Awakening as a Neurobiological Event
From this scientific perspective, a Kundalini awakening is not a mystical serpent rising but a holistic neurobiological transformation. It is the moment the entire system shifts from a state of dysregulated, partial functioning to one of total coherence and integration. It represents the full “activation” of the central channel—the spinal cord and vagus nerve—creating a powerful, unified feedback loop between the “second brain” in the gut, the heart-brain, and the cognitive brain. This can lead to states of hemispheric brain synchronization, powerful bursts of gamma brainwave activity (associated with peak consciousness), and a subjective experience of ego dissolution and unity.
To make it even more interesting, contemporary science has researched the effect of breathing exercises (such as the ones present in Pranayama) and found out that meditators experienced a 16-28% increase in the skull CSF flow during yogic breathing (compared to spontaneous breathing). While normally heart pulsation was the primary driver of the CSF movements, the deep abdominal breathing technique was an exception to this rule, providing a similar contribution of power from both respiration and heart pulsation, and leading to the biggest increase in CSF oscillation.
Energy Blockages as Myofascial Armoring
The concept of a chakra blockage translates directly into the language of psychosomatics as allostatic load—the cumulative wear and tear on the body due to chronic stress. An unresolved trauma or chronic tension pattern manifests as neurogenic inflammation and muscular armoring within the corresponding nerve plexus. This physiological rigidity impedes the natural oscillation of the ANS and the flow of CSF, effectively “blocking” the systemic integration of neural signals at that specific segment of the spinal axis.
Kundalini Meditation as Conscious Self-Regulation
Kundalini meditation practices—the Kriyas, Pranayama, and Mantras—can be understood as a sophisticated system of conscious self-regulation. The postures challenge the neuromuscular system, the breathwork directly hacks the ANS, and the focused attention rewires the brain through neuroplasticity. The practice is a form of training that gives the practitioner increasing voluntary control over the typically involuntary systems of their own body. This is the scientific definition of self-mastery, a state in which the arbitrary division between the conscious and subconscious mind begins to dissolve.
Sources
Critical comparison of Yogic Nadi with Nervous System / Sachin G. Khedikar, Mukund P. Erande, Deepnarayan V. Shukla
Nadis in Yogic Science and their Correlation with Modern Neuroanatomy / Dr. Deepali Gautam, Dr. Ram, Mohan Singh Kushwah, Dr Bharat Bhushan
Immediate impact of yogic breathing on pulsatile cerebrospinal fluid dynamics / Selda Yildiz, John Grinstead, Andrea Hildebrand, John Oshinski, William D Rooney, Miranda M Lim, Barry Oken
