Trataka and cognition: A systematic review with a proposed neurophysiological mechanism

Objective: The objective of the study is to systematically review clinical and experimental studies on Trataka’s effects on cognitive and autonomic outcomes and to propose a hypothetical mechanism linking sustained gaze fixation to neuroplastic adaptations in oculomotor and cognitive networks. Methods: A comprehensive literature search identified randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies evaluating Trataka interventions across diverse populations. Cognitive performance measures (e.g., digit span, six-letter cancellation, trail-making test), anxiety indices, electrodermal activity, blood pressure, and heart rate variability parameters were extracted and synthesized. Neurophysiological literature on intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cell pathways, frontal eye fields, superior colliculus, thalamic pulvinar, hippocampus, and default mode network modulation informed the mechanistic model. Results: Three RCTs suggest that 4–30-day Trataka interventions may improve working memory and attentional control in elderly individuals, reduce anxiety and electrodermal activity in children undergoing dental procedures, and acutely enhance autonomic balance in hypertensive patients through increased vagal tone. Conclusion: Trataka represents a low-cost, side-effect–free cognitive training tool with preliminary evidence of potential benefits across age groups. We propose an integrative oculomotor-neural mechanism whereby focused gaze enhances top-down attentional networks, thalamic filtering, and hippocampal plasticity while reducing maladaptive mind-wandering. Future standardized trials validate this model and optimize Trataka protocols for cognitive rehabilitation.