MacLean, 1995

MacLean, C. R. K. Mechanisms relating stress reduction and health: changes in neuroendocrine responses to laboratory stress after four months of Transcendental Meditation. Summary of doctoral dissertation, Maharishi International University, U.S.A. Dissertation Abstracts International 56(6): 3074B, 1995.

This study found that those who learned the Transcendental Meditation program showed, in contrast to controls, more adaptive neuroendocrine response to stress, as measured by the following: ­decreased baseline cortisol and decreased average cortisol during stress session; enhanced cortisol response during stressful challenge with rapid return to baseline; increased growth hormone response to stress; increased testosterone response to stress; decreased thyroid-stimulating hormone response to stress; and decreased plasma serotonin relative to controls for baseline, average, and response to stress. Lower plasma serotonin, unlike whole body serotonin metabolism, indicates decreased stress and decreased risk of high blood pressure. Low baseline cortisol and enhanced cortisol response to stress is understood as a more stable and adaptive physiological profile.

Year

1995

Publication type

Doctoral Dissertation

Paper type

Empirical

Collected Papers

Vol. 6, pp. 3759–3759

Section

Metabolic, Biochemical, and Cardiovascular Changes

Findings (6)

Authors

• Christopher R. K. MacLean, PhD

  Maharishi International University, Fairfield, IA, USA