Year: 2026 | Month: January-March | Volume: 11 | Issue: 1 | Pages: 1-16
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/gijhsr.20260101
A Systematic Review of the Ayurvedic Concepts of Dhi, Dhriti, and Smriti and Their Correlation with Contemporary Cognitive Neuroscience
Dr. Manish Kumar Yadav1, Prof. (Dr.) Dinesh Chandra Sharma2,
1Assistant Professor, PG Department of Kriya Sharir, PGIA, DSRRAU, Jodhpur
2Professor and HOD, PG Department of Kriya Sharir, PGIA, DSRRAU, Jodhpur
Corresponding Author: Dr. Manish Kumar Yadav
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Three primary faculties of mind and mental health. According to the ancient Indian system of medicine, Ayurveda, a comprehensive model for aspects of cognition derived from three basic functions that decide mental process are Dhi (the acquisition aspect, reasoning facet of intellect), Dhriti (the retention or sustaining or volitional, cognitive stability), and Smriti (memory). The physiological basis of Ayurveda has been disquietingly proven by scientific research, but the literature on neurocognitive correlates of its psychobehavioral traits has not been systematically evaluated. This review seeks to systematically find and assess the current scientific evidence for candidates of Dhi, Dhriti, and Smriti in terms of contemporary cognitive neuroscience and psychology.
Methods: A systematic review of the literature was performed in accordance with the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) statement. A search was conducted in electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, PsycINFO, and AYUSH Research Portal) from the beginning to October 2024. Search terms were a combination of "Dhi," "Dhriti," "Smriti," "Buddhi," "Medha," along with Cognition, Executive function, Working memory, Long-term memory, Emotional regulation, and Cognitive control, AND with Ayurveda", Mind Neurobiology/Neurocircuitry/ Prefrontal Cortex/Hippocampus/ Default Mode Network. Studies were eligible if they offered empiric evidence, theoretical models, or conceptual analysis across these Ayurvedic concepts and modern cognitive factors, neural bases, or psychological processes.
Results: The search yielded 2,185 records. After screening, a total of 94 studies were identified meeting the inclusion criteria. Synthesis The evidence indicates that Dhi closely correlates with components of executive functions (EFs), specifically cognitive flexibility, reasonableness, and problem solving involving the lateral prefrontal cortex (PFC) and its associated networks. Dhriti is associated with higher psychological constructs such as coping or emotional regulation, resilience, and cognitive control that necessarily include the prefrontal vmPFC, ACC circuitry, and their inhibitory circuits to the limbic system. Smriti is consistent with the mechanisms of memory encoding, consolidation, and retrieval, involving mostly the hippocampal formation, parahippocampal cortices, and the widespread patterns of distributed neocortical activity within the default mode network (DMN).
Discussion: The results establish a strong multilevel foundation for interpreting the knowledge about Hayasirṣā in classical Āyurveda from the perspective of modern science. Dhi, Dhriti, and Smriti may be the equivalent of a refined, comprehensive structure resembling the conceptual description of cognitive control. Dhi as the “controlling”, for Dhriti taking its role as a “stabilizing”, to Smriti with aggregating information already stored in an internal database. This model focuses on the learning, stabilisation of emotions, and memory as being interrelated. The review works towards building a bridge between disciplines and may offer mutual enrichment of cognitive neuroscience by holistic views, as well as scientific ground for Ayurvedic mental health interventions. This correlation should be better investigated in the future, using neuroimaging, neuropsychological evaluation, and psychometric validation of scales built on such constructs.
Keywords: Dhi, Dhriti, Smriti, Ayurveda, Cognitive Neuroscience, Executive Function, Emotional Regulation, Memory, Prefrontal Cortex, Hippocampus, Default Mode Network, PRISMA.