Orme-Johnson, Wallace, Dillbeck, et al., 1981
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.
- Year
- 1981
- Publication type
- Conference Presentation
- Paper type
- Empirical
- Collected Papers
- Vol. 4, pp. 2245–2266
- Section
- Electrophysiological and Electroencephalographic Changes
Findings (6)
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)
Transcendental Meditation · Correlation/regression study
Stabilization of Increased EEG Coherence Following the Transcendental Meditation Technique
Transcendental Meditation · State changes with control condition
Increased EEG Coherence Longitudinally as a Result of the TM-Sidhi program
TM-Sidhi program · Longitudinal with nonrandomized controls · TM-Sidhi
Increased Frontal EEG Alpha Coherence Correlated with Increased Creativity
Transcendental Meditation · Correlation/regression study
During the Practice—Electroencephalographic
Increased EEG Coherence During the Transcendental Meditation Technique
Transcendental Meditation · State changes with control condition
Cognitive Performance
Increased Creativity (Verbal Fluency and Flexibility) Longitudinally through the TM-Sidhi program
TM-Sidhi program · Longitudinal with nonrandomized controls · TM-Sidhi
Authors
- Charles N. Alexander, PhD
Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- David W. Orme-Johnson, PhD
Maharishi International University, Fairfield, IA, USA
- R. Keith Wallace, PhD
Maharishi International University, Fairfield, IA, USA
- Michael C. Dillbeck, PhD
Maharishi International University, Fairfield, IA, USA
- O. E. Ball, PhD
University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA