O'Halloran et al., 1989
O’Halloran, J. P.; Jevning, R. A.; Wilson, A. F.; Skowsky, R.; and Alexander, C. N. Behaviorally induced secretion of arginine vasopressin. Departments of Medicine and Physiology, University of California at Irvine, Orange, California, USA; Department of Endocrinology, Long Beach Veteran’s Administration Hospital, Long Beach, California, USA; and Department of Psychology and Social Relations, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, 1983.
Plasma vasopressin levels were found to be elevated before, during, and after the practice of Transcendental Meditation compared to levels at other times of the day, and to levels in nonmeditating controls who rested. This effect was not due to the usual mechanisms responsible for vasopressin release, and may be of importance in mediating the benefits of Transcendental Meditation for learning, memory, and behavior. The meditators were also found to have lower state and trait anxiety scores before and after Transcendental Meditation, compared to the controls. Furthermore, galvanic skin resistance increased more markedly during Transcendental Meditation than relaxation.
- Year
- 1989
- Publication type
- Collected Papers
- Paper type
- Empirical
- Collected Papers
- Vol. 3, pp. 1640–1645
- Section
- Metabolic, Biochemical, and Cardiovascular Changes
Findings (3)
Biochemical
Increased Plasma Vasopressin (and Normal Plasma Osmolality) at Times of Regular Twice Daily Practice of the Transcendental Meditation Technique
Transcendental Meditation · State changes with control condition
Psychological Health
Lower State and Trait Anxiety
Transcendental Meditation · Cross-sectional comparison of groups
During the Practice—Electrophysiological
Increased Basal Skin Resistance
Transcendental Meditation · State changes with control condition · During TM
Authors
- Charles N. Alexander, PhD
Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- R. Skowsky, MD
Lon Beach Veterans Administration Hospital, Long Beach, CA, USA
- J. P. O'Halloran, BA
University of California at Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
- Ron Jevning, PhD
University of California at Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
- Archie F. Wilson, MD PhD
University of California at Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA