Physiological Effects of Transcendental Meditation
Science March 27, 1970 DOI: 10.1126/science.167.3926.1751 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Intervention | Transcendental meditation |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Transcendental meditation Transcendental number Consciousness Heart rate Theology Blood pressure Epistemology |
| Citations | 659 |
| Key findings | Transcendental meditation produces measurable physiological changes—decreased oxygen consumption and heart rate, increased skin resistance, and altered EEG frequencies—that distinguish it from ordinary consciousness. |
Abstract
Oxygen consumption, heart rate, skin resistance, and electroenceph-alograph measurements were recorded before, during, and after subjects practiced a technique called transcendental meditation. There were significant changes between the control period and the meditation period in all measurements. During meditation, oxygen consumption and heart rate decreased, skin resistance increased, and the electroencephalogram showed specific changes in certain frequencies. These results seem to distinguish the state produced by transcendental meditation from commonly encountered states of consciousness and suggest that it may have practical applications.