Scientific Research Database
Research on the Transcendental Meditation and TM-Sidhi Programs
As taught by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi
615 papers · 1,637 findings · 161 journals · 1970–2015
6 papers found
- 2012· Behavior Modification· Research ReviewLang, Ariel J.; Strauss, Jennifer L.; Bomyea, Jessica; Bormann, Jill E.; Hickman, Steven D.; Good, Raquel C.; Essex, Michael (2012). The Theoretical and Empirical Basis for Meditation as an Intervention for PTSD. Behavior Modification, 36(6), 759–786.
Review of mindfulness, mantra and compassion meditation as possible interventions for post-traumatic stress disorder. This is a broader meditation review, not a trial establishing TM-specific efficacy.
- Review Paper—Psychology: Describes possible psychological mechanisms through which meditation could address PTSD symptoms.
- Review Paper—Health: Finds limited but promising evidence and recommends further evaluation rather than firm conclusions about effectiveness.
- 1996· Circulation· Empirical· Collected Papers Vol. 6Alexander, C.; Barnes, V.; Schneider, R.; Langer, E.; Newman, R.; Chandler, H.; Davies, J.; and Rainforth, M. A randomized controlled trial of stress reduction on cardiovascular and all-cause mortality in the elderly: Results of 8 year and 15 year follow-ups. Circulation 93: 629, 1996 (Abstract).
This long-term follow-up study found that elderly persons who had learned the Transcendental Meditation program showed significantly increased longevity, compared to those randomly assigned to participate in other programs. Those who had learned the Transcendental Meditation program also showed less cardiovascular mortality.
- Health—Aging: Increased Longevity (Higher Survival Rate)
- Health—Aging: Higher Survival Rate Among Those with Cardiovascular Mortality
- 1990· Empirical· Collected Papers Vol. 5Alexander, C. N.; Langer, E.; Newman, R. I.; Chandler, H. M.; and Davies, J. L. Transcendental Meditation, mindfulness, and longevity: An experimental study with the elderly. Summary of a paper to appear in Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.
Participation in the Transcendental Meditation program by the elderly resulted in reduced blood pressure, improved cognitive functioning, and increased longevity.
- Learning and Memory: Increased Learning Ability among the Elderly
- Health—Aging: Improvements in Self-Reported Measures of Behavioral Flexibility and Aging among the Elderly
- Health—General: More Relaxation after Practice of the Transcendental Meditation technique among the Elderly
- + 4 more findings
- 1989· Journal of Personality and Social Psychology· Empirical· Collected Papers Vol. 6Alexander, C. N.; Langer, E. J.; Newman, R. I. ; Chandler, H. M.; and Davies, J. L. Transcendental Meditation, mindfulness, and longevity: An experimental study with the elderly. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 57: 950–964, 1989.
Individuals who learned the Transcendental Meditation program showed, in contrast to those participating in other treatments, a wide variety of physiological and psychological changes indicating a reversal of the deleterious effects of aging: reduction of high systolic blood pressure, improved mental health, increased cognitive flexibility, increased learning ability, greater behavioral flexibility, and greater sense of well-being. Those who learned the Transcendental Meditation program also showed significantly increased longevity during a follow-up period of three years.
- Health—Aging: Increased Longevity (Higher Survival Rate)
- Health—Cardiovascular: Reduction of Systolic Blood Pressure to More Ideal Levels among the Elderly
- Psychological Health: Improved Mental Health (Improvements on Nurses’ Mental Health Ratings) among the Elderly
- + 4 more findings
- 1989· Empirical· Collected Papers Vol. 4Burgmans, W. H. P. M.; Burgt, A. T. van der; Langenkamp, F. P. TH.; and Verstegen, J. H. Sociological effects of the group dynamics of consciousness: Decrease of crime and traffic accidents in Holland. Maharishi College of Natural Law, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, 1982.
The collective practice of the Transcendental Meditation and TM-Sidhi program was found to result in improvements in the quality of national life in Holland, as reflected in reductions in national rates of crime and traffic accidents with injury.
- Sociological—Reduced Crime: Decreased Crime (Holland, 1979 and 1981)
- Sociological—Reduced Accidents: Decreased Traffic Accidents with Injury (Holland, 1979 and 1981)
- 1979· Journal of Neural Transmission· Empirical· Collected Papers Vol. 3Lang, R.; Dehof, K.; Meurer, K. A.; and Kaufmann, W. Sympathetic activity and Transcendental Meditation. Journal of Neural Transmission 44: 117–135, 1979.
The findings of this study indicate that Transcendental Meditation gives rise to a unique physiological state which involves the activity of aspects of both sympathetic and parasympathetic branches of the autonomic nervous system, and that these effects become most clearly evident in more experienced meditators. The results contribute to an understanding of the coexistence of very deep rest with enhanced alertness during Transcendental Meditation.
- Biochemical: Unique State of Integration of Contrasting Styles of Physiological Functioning Involving Changes in the Activity of Both Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Branches of the Autonomic Nervous System