Scientists have approached Autobiography of a Yogi with a mix of curiosity, skepticism and genuine intrigue. While mainstream journals haven’t published peer-reviewed studies on every miracle or siddhi described, the memoir has nonetheless found a foothold in consciousness research and complementary medicine circles.

Highlights of its reception among researchers:

• Inspiration for Mind-Body Studies: Yogananda’s vivid accounts fueled early interest in how meditation alters physiology. In the 1970s, Herbert Benson’s landmark work on “the relaxation response” cited Eastern techniques much like Kriya Yoga—and kick-started an avalanche of stress-reduction research.

• Neuroplasticity and Brain Imaging: Recent fMRI and EEG studies on long-term meditators echo Yogananda’s observations of heightened mental clarity and emotional balance. Institutions such as Massachusetts General Hospital and UCLA report measurable shifts in brain areas tied to attention and compassion—lending modern validation to practices first popularized in his pages.

• Parapsychology and Noetic Science: Pioneers like Edgar Mitchell (Apollo 14 astronaut) leaned on Yogananda’s descriptions of altered states when founding the Institute of Noetic Sciences. Though extra-sensory phenomena remain controversial, conferences on consciousness routinely quote passages from the autobiography.

• Healthy Skepticism: Hard-nosed materialists often dismiss supernatural claims in the book as anecdotal. No double-blind study can yet capture levitation or crystal visions, so mainstream neuroscience treats such stories as intriguing folklore rather than settled fact.

Today’s surge in interest around mindfulness, resilience and holistic health finds a surprising ancestor in Yogananda’s bestseller. Journal articles on meditation’s effects, NIH-backed stress trials, and even workplace wellness programs all trace a lineage back to those early chapters. It might not sit on every lab bench, but as a catalyst for exploring inner territories, Autobiography of a Yogi has carved out a niche—sparking dialogue at the crossroads of science and spirit.