Neurophysiological and Cognitive Effects of Transcendental Meditation: Evidence from EEG Biomarkers and Reaction Time.
Annals of Neurosciences June 29, 2026 Vandana Daulatabad, K Prafull, H Estelle et al.
A 12-week Transcendental Meditation intervention (20 minutes/day, 5 days/week) in 34 healthy adults aged 25–50 reduced systolic and diastolic blood pressure and pulse rate with a small effect size. EEG analysis showed increased functional connectivity across fronto-central and occipital regions. Visual and auditory reaction times improved significantly, with the largest effect in auditory reaction time. The findings suggest TM enhances cardiovascular regulation, brain connectivity, and cognitive processing speed, reflecting improved neural efficiency and autonomic balance, and may serve as a simple, non-pharmacological approach for improving cognitive performance and well-being.