Research on the Transcendental Meditation and TM-Sidhi Programs

27 papers found

• 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
• 1983· Empirical· Collected Papers Vol. 5
  Walton, K. G.; Francis, D.; Lerom, M.; and Tourenne, C. Behaviorally-induced alterations in human urinary 5-hydroxyindoles. Transactions of the American Society for Neurochemistry 14: 199, 1983.

  Length of time spent in the daily practice of the Transcendental Meditation and TM-Sidhi program influenced the daily rhythms of the serotonin metabolite 5-HIAA and similar substances. Since serotonin is important in physical and mental health, these changes could mediate some of the beneficial effects of the program.

  • Biochemical: Change in Daily Cycle of Urinary 5-Hydroxyindoles, Metabolites Related to Serotonin
• 1987· Journal of Psychosomatic Research· Empirical· Collected Papers Vol. 5
  Mills, P. J.; Schneider, R.; Hill, D.; Walton, K.; and Wallace, R. K. Lymphocyte beta-adrenergic receptors and cardiovascular responsivity in TM participants and Type A behavior. Summary of a paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Psychosomatic Society, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, March, 1987. Refer also to findings published in Psychosomatic Medicine 49: 211, 1987 and Journal of Psychosomatic Research 33(6), 1989.

  At rest and in response to stress tests, Transcendental Meditation participants maintained lower levels of blood pressure and other physiological indices of stress.

  • Biochemical: Lower Beta-Adrenergic Receptor Sensitivity
  • Response to Stress: Lower Blood Pressure Reactivity to Stress
  • Health—Cardiovascular: Lower Resting Blood Pressure
  • + 1 more findings
• 1990· Journal of Psychosomatic Research· Empirical· Collected Papers Vol. 6
  Mills, P.J.; Schneider, R.H.; Hill, D.; Walton, K.G.; and Wallace, R.K. beta-adrenergic receptor sensitivity in subjects practicing Transcendental Meditation. Journal of Psychosomatic Research 34: 29–33, 1990.

  This study found that those who practice the Transcendental Meditation technique show reduced sensitivity to stress hormones.

  • Biochemical: Reduced Beta-Adrenergic Receptor Sensitivity
• 1990· Empirical· Collected Papers Vol. 6
  Walton, K. G.; Brown, G. M.; Pugh, N.; MacLean, C.; and Gelderloos, P. Indole-mediated adaptation: Does melatonin mediate resistance to stress in humans? Society for Neuroscience Abstracts 16: 273, 1990.

  This study found that participants in the Transcendental Meditation program had lower levels of melatonin turnover; high melatonin turnover was found associated with high stress.

  • Biochemical: Lower Melatonin Turnover, Associated with Lower Stress
• 1990· Empirical· Collected Papers Vol. 6
  Walton, K. G.; Gelderloos, P.; Pugh, N.; Macrae, P.; Goddard, P.; MacLean, C.; and Levitsky, D. Stress and serotonin turnover in normal subjects: relation to serotonin deficiencies in mental disorders. Abstract presented at the 5th International Congress of Psychophysiology, Budapest, Hungary, 9-13 July, 1990.

  This study found that participants in the Transcendental Meditation and TM-Sidhi program showed higher levels of whole body serotonin turnover and less mood disturbance. In general, higher levels of whole body serotonin were correlated with less anxiety, less depression, less aggression, and less impulsiveness.

  • Biochemical: Higher Whole Body Serotonin Turnover
  • Psychological Health: Less Mood Disturbance
  • Biochemical: Higher Levels of Whole Body Serotonin Turnover Correlated with Less Anxiety, Less Depression, Less Aggression, and Less Impulsiveness
• 1991· The International Journal of the Addictions· Research Review· Collected Papers Vol. 6
  Gelderloos, P.; Walton, K. G.; Orme-Johnson, D. W.; and Alexander, C. N. Effectiveness of the Transcendental Meditation program in preventing and treating substance misuse: A review. The International Journal of the Addictions 26: 293–325, 1991.

  The authors review research studies demonstrating decreased substance abuse among the general population, among participants in treatment programs, and among prison inmates through practice of the Transcendental Meditation program.

  • Review Paper—Rehabilitation: Review Paper—Reduced Substance Abuse
• 1994· Psychosomatic Medicine· Empirical· Collected Papers Vol. 6
  Wenneberg, S. R.; Schneider, R. H.; MacLean, C. R. K.; Levitsky, D. K.; Walton, K. G.; Mandarino, J.; and Waziri, R. The effect of Transcendental Meditation on ambulatory blood pressure and cardiovascular reactivity. Psychosomatic Medicine 56: 168, 1994 (Abstract).

  A randomized longitudinal study of ambulatory blood pressure (monitoring of blood pressure during the day’s activity) found that those who learned the Transcendental Meditation program showed a reduction of mean ambulatory diastolic blood pressure, to lower normal levels, without loss of blood pressure reactivity.

  • Health—Cardiovascular: Decreased Mean Diastolic Ambulatory Blood Pressure
  • Health—Cardiovascular: Maintenance of Blood Pressure Reactivity
• 1994· Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly· Theoretical/Review· Collected Papers Vol. 6
  Walton, K. G., and Levitsky, D. A neuroendocrine mechanism for the reduction of drug use and addictions by Transcendental Meditation. Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly 11: 89–117, 1994.

  This paper outlines a model of the neurochemical and endocrine processes associated with chronic stress and their contribution to the development of drug addiction; it also reviews research on the physiological effects of Transcendental Meditation in light of this model, indicating mechanisms of how this technique creates physiological balance and thereby promotes freedom from addictive behaviors.

  • Review Paper—Physiology: Theoretical and Review Paper—Physiology and Reduced Substance Abuse
• 1994· Homeostasis· Research Review· Collected Papers Vol. 6
  Alexander, C. N.; Robinson, P.; Orme-Johnson, D. W.; Schneider, R. H.; and Walton, K. G. The effects of Transcendental Meditation compared to other methods of relaxation and meditation in reducing risk factors, morbidity, and mortality. Homeostasis 35: 243–263, 1994.

  This paper reviews four meta-analyses that show the superiority of Maharishi’s Transcendental Meditation program compared to other techniques in producing deep rest, decreasing anxiety, increasing self-actualization, and decreasing substance abuse (cigarettes, drugs, and alcohol). It also reviews individual well-controlled studies on the beneficial effects of the Transcendental Meditation technique on hypertension, mortality, medical care, and medical expenses, and discusses physiological mechanisms for these effects.

  • Review Paper—Health: Review Paper—Health
• 1995· The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine· Empirical· Collected Papers Vol. 6
  Walton, K. G.; Pugh, N. D. C.; Gelderloos, P.; Macrae, P. Stress reduction and preventing hypertension: preliminary support for a psychoneuroendocrine mechanism. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine 1: 263–283, 1995.

  This study found that individuals practicing the Transcendental Meditation program display psychoneuroendocrine patterns characteristic of lower stress, with implications for the prevention of hypertension.

  • Biochemical: Lower Excretion of Cortisol and Aldosterone
  • Biochemical: Higher Excretion of Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate and Serotonin Metabolite 5-HIAA
  • Biochemical: Lower Excretion of Sodium, Calcium, Zinc, and Sodium/Potassium Ratio
  • + 2 more findings
• 1996· Empirical· Collected Papers Vol. 6
  Mason, L.; Alexander, C. N.; Travis, F. T.; Orme-Johnson, D. W.; Gackenbach, J.; Marsh, G.; Walton, K.; and Rainforth, M. Electrophysiological correlates of higher states of consciousness during sleep. Summary of findings of doctoral dissertation by the first author, Department of Psychology, Maharishi International University, 1995. (Findings also published in Dissertation Abstracts International 56(10): 5797B, 1996.)

  This study found that the experience of pure consciousness during sleep, among participants in the Transcendental Meditation and TM-Sidhi program, was associated with increased EEG theta/­alpha power during deep sleep, decreased EMG activity during deep sleep, increased REM density during REM sleep, and more frequent reports of higher states of consciousness.

  • Electroencephalographic: Increased EEG Theta/Alpha Power During Deep Sleep
  • Electroencephalographic: Decreased EMG Activity During Deep Sleep
  • Electroencephalographic: Increased REM Density During REM Sleep
  • + 1 more findings
• 1996· Hypertension· Empirical· Collected Papers Vol. 6
  Alexander, C. N.; Schneider, R. H.; Staggers, F; Sheppard, W.; Clayborne, B. M.; Rainforth, M.; Salerno, J.; Kondwani, K.; Smith, S.; Walton, K. G.; and Egan, B. Trial of stress reduction for hypertension in older African Americans: II. Sex and risk subgroup analysis. Hypertension 28: 228–237, 1996.

  This study found that the Transcendental Meditation program reduced high systolic and diastolic blood pressure among all subgroups of hypertensive patients—both men and women, and both high and low psychosocial stress subjects—in contrast to control subjects. Those participating in the Transcendental Meditation program, irrespective of their subgroup on five other risk measures for high blood pressure—obesity, alcohol use, physical inactivity, dietary sodium-potassium intake, and an overall index of all risk factors—also showed reduction of both systolic and diastolic blood pressure in comparison to control subjects.

  • Health—Cardiovascular: Reduction of High Systolic and Diastolic Blood Pressure Found for both Men and Women, and both High and Low Psychosocial Stress Subjects who Learned the Transcendental Meditation program
  • Health—Cardiovascular: Reduction of High Systolic and Diastolic Blood Pressure Irrespective of Score on Five Other Measures of Risk for High Blood Pressure—Obesity, Alcohol Use, Physical Inactivity, Dietary Sodium-Potassium Intake, and Index of All Risk Factors Combined
• 1996· The American Journal of Managed Care· Empirical· Collected Papers Vol. 6
  Herron, R. E.; Schneider, R. H.; Mandarino, J. V.; Alexander, C. N.; and Walton, K. G. Cost-effective hypertension management: Comparison of drug therapies with an alternative program. The American Journal of Managed Care 2: 427–437, 1996.

  This study found that among those suffering from mild hypertension, regular practice of the Transcendental Meditation technique was a more cost-effective single means of reducing high blood pressure than the use of antihypertensive drug treatment.

  • Health—Cardiovascular: Greater Cost-Effectiveness for Hypertension Management through Transcendental Meditation program in Comparison to Drug Therapies
• 1996· American Journal of Health Promotion· Empirical· Collected Papers Vol. 6
  Herron, R. E.; Hillis, S. L.; Mandarino, J. V.; Orme-Johnson, D. W.; and Walton, K. G. The impact of the Transcendental Meditation program on government payments to physicians in Quebec. American Journal of Health Promotion 10: 208–216, 1996.

  Individuals who began the Transcendental Meditation program showed reduced payments for physicians’ services during the subsequent years.

  • Health Care Utilization: Decreased Payments for Physicians’ Services
• 1997· Psychoneuroendocrinology· Empirical· Collected Papers Vol. 7
  MacLean, C. R. K.; Walton, K. G.; Wenneberg, S. R.; Levitsky, D. K.; Mandarino, J. P.; Waziri, R.; Hillis, S. L.; and Schneider, R. H. Effects of the Transcendental Meditation program on adaptive mechanisms: Changes in hormone levels and responses to stress after 4 months of practice. Psychoneuroendocrinology 22: 277–295, 1997.

  This experimental study found that those who learned the Transcendental Meditation technique, in contrast to controls who took a stress education class, showed after four months of practice a more adaptive response to stress, as measured by increased cortisol responsiveness to stressors together with reduced basal cortisol and reduced average cortisol. Findings on other hormones also differen­tiated the Transcendental Meditation and stress education groups.

  • Response to Stress: More Adaptive Pattern of Cortisol in Relation to Stress: Decreased Basal Cortisol and Average Cortisol, Increased Cortisol Responsiveness to Stressors
  • Response to Stress: Response to Stressors Different than Controls for Other Hormones (Growth Hormone and Thyroid Stimulating Hormone)
• 1997· Sleep· Empirical· Collected Papers Vol. 7
  Mason, L. I.; Alexander, C. N.; Travis, F. T.; Marsh, G.; Orme-Johnson, D. W.; Gackenbach, J.; Mason, D. C.; Rainforth, M.; and Walton, K. G. Electrophysiological correlates of higher states of consciousness during sleep in long-term practitioners of the Transcendental Meditation program. Sleep 20: 102–110, 1997.

  Participants in the Transcendental Meditation program who reported the experience of higher states of consciousness during sleep displayed EEG and EMG activity suggesting the integration of physiological characteristics of Transcendental Consciousness together with physiological characteristics of deep sleep, in contrast to two control groups.

  • Self Development: Experience of Pure Consciousness During Sleep Associated with More Frequent Reports of Higher States of Consciousness
• 1997· International Journal of Neuroscience· Empirical· Collected Papers Vol. 7
  Wenneberg, S. R.; Schneider, R. H.; Walton, K. G.; Maclean C. R.; Levitsky, D. K.; Salerno, J. W.; Wallace, R. K.; Mandarino, J. V.; Rainforth, M. V.; and Waziri, R. A controlled study of the effects of the Transcendental Meditation program on cardiovascular reactivity and ambulatory blood pressure. International Journal of Neuroscience 89: 15–28, 1997.

  Individuals randomly assigned to learn the Transcendental Meditation program showed a significant reduction of average ambulatory diastolic blood pressure over a period of four months in contrast to control subjects randomly assigned to participate in a stress education program.

  • Health—Cardiovascular: Reduction in Ambulatory Diastolic Blood Pressure
• 2002· Behavioral Medicine· Research Review· Collected Papers Vol. 7
  Walton, Kenneth G.; Schneider, Robert H.; Nidich, Sanford I.; Salerno, John W.; Nordstrom, Cheryl K.; and Merz, C. Noel Bairey. Psychosocial stress and cardiovascular disease. Part 2: Effectiveness of the Transcendental Meditation program in treatment and prevention. Behavioral Medicine 28: 106–123, 2002.

  The authors review research on the Transcendental Meditation program indicating reduction of physiological indicators of stress, and demonstrating reduction of cardiovascular risk factors, morbidity, and mortality.

  • Review Paper—Health: Research Review—Reduced Stress and Reduced Cardiovascular Risk Factors, Morbidity, and Mortality
• 2003· Journal of Offender Rehabilitation· Empirical· Collected Papers Vol. 7
  Hawkins, Mark A.; Alexander, Charles N.; Travis, Frederick T.; Camelia, Carl R. T.; Walton, Kenneth G.; Durchholz, Christian F.; and Rainforth, Maxwell V. Consciousness-Based Rehabilitation of inmates in the Netherlands Antilles: Psychosocial and cognitive changes. Journal of Offender Rehabilitation, 36: 205–228, 2003.

  Prison inmates in the Netherlands Antilles who learned the Transcendental Meditation program, in contrast to control inmates, showed significantly reduced cognitive distortion and improvement in intelligence-related measures after 10 months.

  • Rehabilitation of Offenders: Improved Intellectual Functioning among Prisoners
  • Rehabilitation of Offenders: Decreased Cognitive Distortion among Prisoners