Research on the Transcendental Meditation and TM-Sidhi Programs

45 papers found

• 1970· Science· Empirical· Collected Papers Vol. 1
  Wallace, R. K. Physiological effects of Transcendental Meditation. Science 167: 1751–1754, 1970.

  The Transcendental Meditation technique produces a physiologically distinguishable state.

  • During the Practice—Respiratory/Metabolic: Decreased Metabolic Rate (Decreased Oxygen Consumption and Unchanged Respiratory Quotient)
  • During the Practice—Respiratory/Metabolic: Decreased Minute Ventilation
  • During the Practice—Cardiovascular: Decreased Heart Rate
  • + 2 more findings
• 1971· Empirical· Collected Papers Vol. 1
  Wallace, R. K. The physiological effects of Transcendental Meditation: A proposed fourth major state of consciousness. Doctoral thesis, Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA, 1970. Findings also published in Dissertation Abstracts International 31(7): 4303B, 1971.

  The state produced during the practice of the Transcendental Meditation technique is physiologically unique and may be considered a fourth major state of consciousness.

  • Health—General: Self-Reported Improvements in Physical and Mental Health, and Resistance to Disease
  • During the Practice—Respiratory/Metabolic: Decreased Metabolic Rate (Decreased Oxygen Consumption and Decreased Carbon Dioxide Elimination)
  • During the Practice—Respiratory/Metabolic: Normal Arterial Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide Partial Pressures
  • + 6 more findings
• 1971· American Journal of Physiology· Empirical· Collected Papers Vol. 1
  Wallace, R. K.; Benson, H.; and Wilson A. F. A wakeful hypometabolic physiologic state. American Journal of Physiology 221: 795–799, 1971.

  Physiological changes occurring during the practice of the Transcendental Meditation technique indicate a state of deep relaxation along with mental alertness.

  • During the Practice—Respiratory/Metabolic: Decreased Metabolic Rate (Decreased Oxygen Consumption and Carbon Dioxide Elimination)
  • During the Practice—Respiratory/Metabolic: Normal Arterial Oxygen and Decreased Carbon Dioxide Partial Pressures
  • During the Practice—Respiratory/Metabolic: Decreased Respiration Rate Decreased Minute Ventilation
  • + 5 more findings
• 1972· Scientific American· Empirical· Collected Papers Vol. 1
  Wallace, R. K.; and Benson, H. The physiology of meditation. Scientific American 226(2): 84–90, 1972.

  Physiological changes during the practice of the Transcendental Meditation technique indicate a state characterized by quiescence of the sympathetic nervous system.

  • During the Practice—Respiratory/Metabolic: Decreased Metabolic Rate (Decreased Oxygen Consumption and Decreased Carbon Dioxide Elimination)
  • During the Practice—Respiratory/Metabolic: Normal Arterial Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide Partial Pressures
  • During the Practice—Respiratory/Metabolic: Decreased Respiration Rate; Decreased Minute Ventilation
  • + 5 more findings
• 1972· Empirical· Collected Papers Vol. 1
  Levander, V. L.; Benson, H.; Wheeler, R. C.; and Wallace, R. K. Increased forearm blood flow during a wakeful hypometabolic state. Federation Proceedings 31: 405 (abstract), 1972.

  Forearm blood flow increased during the practice of the Transcendental Meditation technique, suggesting decreased sympathetic activity and deep relaxation.-EDITORS

  • During the Practice—Cardiovascular: Small Increase in Forearm Blood Flow
• 1972· Circulation· Empirical· Collected Papers Vol. 1
  Benson, H.; and Wallace, R. K. Decreased blood pressure in hypertensive subjects who practiced meditation. Supplement 11 to Circulation 45 and 46: 516 (abstract), 1972.

  Hypertensive patients practicing the Transcendental Meditation technique showed improvement in their condition.

  • Health—Cardiovascular: Decreased Blood Pressure in Hypertensive Subjects
• 1972· Empirical· Collected Papers Vol. 1
  Benson, H.; and Wallace, R. K. Decreased drug abuse with Transcendental Meditation: A study of 1,862 subjects. In Drug Abuse: Proceedings of the International Conference, ed. C. J. D. Zarafonetis, pp. 369–376. Philadelphia: Lea and Febiger, 1972.

  Drug abuse and drug selling were found to decrease among individuals practicing the Transcendental Meditation technique. Also, attitudes were found to change in the direction of discouraging others from abusing drugs.

  • Health Promoting Behavior: Decreased Drug Abuse
  • Health Promoting Behavior: Decreased Use of Alcohol
  • Health Promoting Behavior: Decreased Use of Cigarettes
  • + 2 more findings
• 1974· Research Review· Collected Papers Vol. 1
  Wallace, R. K. Neurophysiology of enlightenment. Livingston Manor, New York: MIU Press, 1974. Paper presented at the 26th International Congress of Physiological Sciences, New Delhi, India, October 1974.

  This contribution outlines the broad historical implications of scientific research on the Transcendental Meditation program for developing enlightened individuals, an enlightened society, cultural integrity, and world peace. This address, presented in October 1974, includes Maharishi's projection that one percent of a population participating in the Transcendental Meditation program will cause a phase transition in society to greater harmony, a projection that was confirmed in December 1974 in four U.S. cities, and further confirmed in January 1975 in eleven U.S. cities (see Borland and Landrith, paper 99).

  • Review Paper—Physiology: Review Paper—Neurophysiology
• 1979· Research Review· Collected Papers Vol. 4
  Orme-Johnson, D. W.; Wallace, R. K.; Dillbeck, M. C.; and Kay Rosenberg, N. Recent biochemical and physiological research on the Transcendental Meditation and TM-Sidhi Program: Clinical and epidemiological applications. Center for the Study of Higher States of Consciousness, Maharishi International University, Fairfield, Iowa, USA. Paper presented at the American Psychiatric Association, 132nd Annual Meeting, Chicago, Illinois, USA, 17 May 1979.

  This paper provides an extensive discussion of electrophysiological and biochemical research on the Transcendental Meditation and TM-Sidhi program, including some interesting findings on EEG coherence not previously reported in the literature. Research is reviewed from the theoretical perspective of the nature of consciousness and the principles of its development as systematically expounded by Maharishi in the Science of Creative Intelligence. The authors emphasize the value of Maharishi's insights in relation to some major constructs within psychiatry and discuss important clinical and epidemiological applications of the Transcendental Meditation and TM-Sidhi program.

  • Review Paper—Physiology: Review Paper—Electrophysiological and Biochemical Research
• 1981· Empirical· Collected Papers Vol. 3
  Walton, K. G.; Lerom, M.; Salerno, J.; and Wallace, R. K. Practice of the Transcendental Meditation (TM) and TM-Sidhi Program may affect the circadian rhythm of urinary 5-hydroxyindole excretion. Society for Neuroscience Abstracts 7: 48, 1981.

  A consistent rise in urinary 5-hydroxyindole excretion was noted to occur as a result of the practice of the Transcendental Meditation and TM-Sidhi program, reflecting alterations in serotonergic activity either peripherally or in the central nervous system.

  • Biochemical: Increased Urinary 5-Hydroxyindole Levels
• 1981· International Journal of Neuroscience· Empirical· Collected Papers Vol. 3
  Dillbeck, M. C.; Orme-Johnson, D. W.; and Wallace, R. K. Frontal EEG coherence, H-reflex recovery, concept learning, and the TM-Sidhi Program. International Journal of Neuroscience 15: 151–157, 1981.

  Frontal EEG coherence and H-reflex recovery were found to be correlated with flexibility of concept learning in subjects practicing the Transcendental Meditation technique. Instruction in the TM-Sidhi program was seen to improve efficiency on a concept-learning task.

  • Cognitive Performance: Increased Efficiency of Concept Learning as a Result of the TM-Sidhi program
  • Electroencephalographic: Greater Flexibility of Concept Learning Correlated with High Frontal EEG Alpha and Theta Coherence during the Transcendental Meditation technique, and with Greater Neurological Efficiency (Faster H-Reflex Recovery)
• 1981· Empirical· Collected Papers Vol. 4
  Orme-Johnson, D. W.; Wallace, R. K.; Dillbeck, M. C.; Alexander, C. N.; and Ball, O. E. Improved functional organization of the brain through the Maharishi Technology of the Unified Field as indicated by changes in EEG coherence and its cognitive correlates: A proposed model of higher states of consciousness. Departments of Psychology and Biology, Maharishi International University, Fairfield, Iowa, USA; Department of Psychology and Social Relations, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA; and Department of Education, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA. Paper presented at the American Psychological Society Annual Convention, Los Angeles, California, USA, September 1981.

  The effects of the Transcendental Meditation and TM-Sidhi program were studied in terms of the functional organization of the brain, as reflected in patterns of EEG coherence and in the correlations of these patterns with measures of cognitive performance and emotional health. Findings indicated that higher levels of coherence in the frontal cortex relative to the occipital area are, in general, correlated with higher levels of cognitive performance and greater emotional stability. Furthermore, results showed increases in both alpha and theta EEG coherence levels as a result of learning the TM-Sidhi program, with proportionately greater increases taking place in the frontal lobes compared to the occipital lobes. The authors discuss their findings in terms of the development of higher states of consciousness through the Transcendental Meditation and TM-Sidhi program.

  • Electroencephalographic: Higher Frontal EEG Coherence Correlated with Superior Cognitive Performance (Verbal Intelligence, Principled Moral Reasoning, and Grade Point Average) and Greater Emotional Stability (Lower Neuroticism)
  • During the Practice—Electroencephalographic: Increased EEG Coherence During the Transcendental Meditation Technique
  • Electroencephalographic: Stabilization of Increased EEG Coherence Following the Transcendental Meditation Technique
  • + 3 more findings
• 1982· International Journal of Neuroscience· Empirical· Collected Papers Vol. 3
  Orme-Johnson, D.; Dillbeck, M. C.; Wallace, R. K.; and Landrith III, G. S. Intersubject EEG coherence: Is consciousness a field? International Journal of Neuroscience 16: 203–209, 1982.

  EEG coherence was found to increase between subjects practicing Transcendental Meditation at precisely the time at which 2,500 individuals were engaged in the group practice of the TM-Sidhi program over 1,000 miles away. The authors propose that consciousness is an underlying, unbounded field which is enlivened during the Transcendental Meditation and TM-Sidhi program. This study therefore helps to explain the mechanics of the Maharishi Effect, whereby even a small fraction of a population practicing the Transcendental Meditation and TM-Sidhi program creates coherence in the collective consciousness of the whole society.

  • Electroencephalographic: Increased Intersubject EEG Coherence Associated with Group Practice of the TM-Sidhi program
• 1982· Empirical· Collected Papers Vol. 3
  Wallace, R. K.; Mills, P. J.; Orme-Johnson, D. W.; Dillbeck, M. C.; and Jacobe, E. The paired H reflex and its correlation with EEG coherence and academic performance in normal subjects practicing meditation. Society for Neuroscience Abstracts 8: 537, 1982.

  Paired H-reflex recovery was found to be correlated with EEG coherence and academic performance in participants in the Transcendental Meditation program.

  • Electroencephalographic: Greater Neurological Efficiency (Faster H-Reflex Recovery) Correlated with High EEG Coherence and Superior Academic Performance
• 1982· International Journal of Neuroscience· Empirical· Collected Papers Vol. 3
  Wallace, R. K.; Dillbeck, M.; Jacobe, E.; and Harrington, B. The effects of the Transcendental Meditation and TM-Sidhi Program on the aging process. International Journal of Neuroscience 16: 53–58, 1982.

  The Transcendental Meditation and TM-Sidhi program was found to reverse the aging process. The mean biological age of short-term meditators was found to be 5 years younger, and that of long-term meditators 12 years younger, than expected from population norms. A correlation was found between length of time practicing the Transcendental Meditation program and younger biological age.

  • Health—Aging: Younger Biological Age Compared with Control Subjects and Population Norms
  • Health—Aging: Length of Time Practicing the Transcendental Meditation Program Correlated with Reduction in Biological Age
• 1983· Journal of Moral Education· Empirical· Collected Papers Vol. 3
  Nidich, S. I.; Ryncarz, R. A.; Abrams, A. I.; Orme-Johnson, D. W.; and Wallace, R. K. Kohlbergian cosmic perspective responses, EEG coherence, and the Transcendental Meditation and TM-Sidhi Program. Journal of Moral Education 12(3): 166–173, 1983.

  High frontal alpha EEG coherence was associated with a more unified perspective of life, as described by Kohlberg's Stage 7, in subjects practicing the Transcendental Meditation and TM-Sidhi program.

  • Electroencephalographic: High Frontal EEG Alpha Coherence Found among Subjects with a Unified Cosmic Perspective on Life
  • Electroencephalographic: High Homolateral Right EEG Alpha Coherence Correlated with Principled Moral Reasoning
• 1983· Experimental Neurology· Empirical· Collected Papers Vol. 3
  Wallace, R. K.; Mills, P. J.; Orme-Johnson, D. W.; Dillbeck, M. C.; and Jacobe, E. Modification of the paired H reflex through the Transcendental Meditation and TM-Sidhi Program. Experimental Neurology 79: 77–86, 1983.

  The amplitude of the paired H reflex was facilitated as a result of the TM-Sidhi program, indicating improved neurological efficiency.

  • Motor Performance: Facilitation of the Paired H Reflex through the TM-Sidhi program
• 1983· Psychosomatic Medicine· Empirical· Collected Papers Vol. 3
  Wallace, R. K.; Silver, J.; Mills, P. J.; Dillbeck, M. C.; and Wagoner, D. E. Systolic blood pressure and long-term practice of the Transcendental Meditation and TM-Sidhi Program: Effects of TM on systolic blood pressure. Psychosomatic Medicine 45(1): 41–46, 1983.

  Subjects practicing the Transcendental Meditation and TM-Sidhi program were found to have lower systolic blood pressure than norms for the general population. Furthermore, long-term meditators were seen to have lower systolic blood pressure than short-term meditators.

  • Health—Cardiovascular: Lower Systolic Blood Pressure Compared to Population Norms for Age
• 1984· Psychosomatic Medicine· Empirical· Collected Papers Vol. 3
  Badawi, K.; Wallace, R. K.; Orme-Johnson, D.; and Rouzeré, A.-M. Electrophysiologic characteristics of respiratory suspension periods occurring during the practice of the Transcendental Meditation Program. Psychosomatic Medicine 46(3): 267–276, 1984.

  The combination of inner alertness, respiratory suspension, and high EEG coherence was found to characterize the state of transcendental consciousness experienced during the practice of the Transcendental Meditation technique.

  • During the Practice—Respiratory/Metabolic: Episodes of Spontaneous Breath Suspension (Not Followed by Hyperventilation) Associated with the Experience of Pure Consciousness
  • During the Practice—Brain Activity: High EEG Coherence Associated with the Experience of Pure Consciousness
• 1986· Psychosomatic Medicine· Empirical· Collected Papers Vol. 5
  Werner, O. R.; Wallace, R. K.; Charles, B.; Janssen, G.; Stryker, T.; and Chalmers, R. A. Long-term endocrinologic changes in subjects practicing the Transcendental Meditation and TM-Sidhi Program. Psychosomatic Medicine 48: 59–65, 1986.

  Long-term participants in the Transcendental Meditation and TM-Sidhi program showed increased efficiency and stability of endocrine functioning.

  • Biochemical: Long-Term Reduction in Basal Levels of Pituitary Hormones (TSH, Growth Hormone, and Prolactin) with Maintenance of Adrenal and Thyroid Hormone Levels