Renin, Cortisol, and Aldosterone During Transcendental Meditation
Ruth R. Michaels, Juan Parra, Daisy S. McCann, Arthur J. Vander
Psychosomatic Medicine February 1, 1979 DOI: 10.1097/00006842-197902000-00006 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Controlled experimental study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Meditators and non-meditating controls |
| Intervention | Transcendental meditation |
| Duration | 20-30 minutes of meditation |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Citations | 54 |
| Key findings | Transcendental meditation did not induce a unique state of decreased sympathetic activity or stress release, but meditators may be less responsive to acute stress. |
Abstract
The effects of transcendental meditation (TM) on plasma renin activity (PRA) and plasma concentrations of aldosterone, cortisol, and lactate were studied by measuring these variables before, during, and after 20--30 min of meditation. Subjects, who rested quietly rather than meditating, served as controls. There were no differences in the basal values for these variables between meditators and controls, but controls, in contrast to meditators, showed a significant increase in cortisol between the first (A) and second (B) samples of the control period. PRA increased slightly (14%) but significantly (p less than 0.03) during TM, but not during quiet rest in controls. Cortisol decreased progressively (after sample B) throughout the experiment to the same degree in both groups. Aldosterone and lactate did not change. The data do not support the hypothesis that TM induces a unique state characterized by decreased sympathetic activity or release from stress, but do suggest that meditators may be less responsive to an acute stress.
Comparable studies
Other experimental studies on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Cancer patients (clinical intervention study) | 2003 | Mixed methods: scale development, correlational, quasi-experimental, laboratory, experience-sampling, and clinical intervention study | |
| Loving-kindness meditation increases social connectedness. | 2008 | Controlled laboratory experiment | |
| Mindfulness and mind-wandering: Finding convergence through opposing constructs. | 2012 | Two studies: correlational study and experimental study | |
| Mental Training Enhances Attentional Stability: Neural and Behavioral Evidence | 2009 | Experimental study | |
| Mindfulness meditation and substance use in an incarcerated population. Incarcerated population | 2006 | Quasi-experimental with treatment-as-usual control condition |
Citations in the library
Cited by 10
- Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular Disease in Adolescents and Adults through the Transcendental Meditation® Program: A Research Review Update Current Hypertension Reviews October 1, 2012
- Impact of Integrated Amrita Meditation Technique on Adrenaline and Cortisol Levels in Healthy Volunteers Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2011
- The effects of transcendental meditation on stress reduction in adults: a systematic review Minerva Psychiatry October 1, 2026
- The neurophysiological effects of yogic meditation observed in electroencephalography patterns and neurotransmitter levels: A narrative review of scientific evidence. Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine 2026
- Diaphragmatic breathing reduces exercise-induced oxidative stress. Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2011
and 5 more in the library