Autonomic and EEG patterns distinguish transcending from other experiences during Transcendental Meditation practice.
International Journal of Psychophysiology August 2001 DOI: 10.1016/s0167-8760(01)00143-x (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Meditators practicing Transcendental Meditation |
| Intervention | Transcendental Meditation |
| Measures | EEG alpha amplitude, EEG alpha coherence, respiratory sinus arrhythmia, breath rate, skin conductance response |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | Transcending during TM was marked by lower breath rates, higher respiratory sinus arrhythmia amplitudes, higher EEG alpha amplitude and coherence, and larger skin conductance responses to bell rings, compared with other experiences. |
Abstract
This study compared EEG and autonomic patterns during transcending to "other" experiences during Transcendental Meditation (TM) practice. To correlate specific meditation experiences with physiological measures, the experimenter rang a bell three times during the TM session. Subjects categorized their experiences around each bell ring. Transcending, in comparison to "other" experiences during TM practice, was marked by: (1) significantly lower breath rates; (2) higher respiratory sinus arrhythmia amplitudes; (3) higher EEG alpha amplitude; and (4) higher alpha coherence. In addition, skin conductance responses to the experimenter-initiated bell rings were larger during transcending. These findings suggest that monitoring patterns of physiological variables may index dynamically changing inner experiences during meditation practice. This could allow a more precise investigation into the nature of meditation experiences and a more accurate comparison of meditation states with other eyes-closed conditions.
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness Undergraduate students | 2006 | Observational cohort | |
| Effectiveness of a meditation-based stress reduction program in the treatment of anxiety disorders Patients with generalized anxiety disorder or panic disorder with or without agoraphobia | 1992 | Observational cohort | n = 22 |
| Meditation experience is associated with increased cortical thickness Participants with extensive Insight meditation experience and matched controls | 2005 | Observational cohort | n = 20 |
| Meditation experience is associated with differences in default mode network activity and connectivity Experienced meditators and matched meditation-naive controls | 2011 | Observational cohort | |
| Long-term meditators self-induce high-amplitude gamma synchrony during mental practice Long-term Buddhist practitioners and controls | 2004 | Observational cohort |
Citations in the library
Cited by 66
- Review of the Neural Oscillations Underlying Meditation Frontiers in Neuroscience March 26, 2018
- Toward a unifying taxonomy and definition for meditation Frontiers in Psychology 2013
- An analysis of recent meditation research and suggestions for future directions. The Humanistic Psychologist 2003
- A Systematic Review of Transcendent States Across Meditation and Contemplative Traditions. Explore 2018
- 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
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Cites 8
- Physiological Effects of Transcendental Meditation Science March 27, 1970
- Treating and Preventing Alcohol, Nicotine, and Drug Abuse Through Transcendental Meditation: Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly October 26, 1994
- Short-Term Longitudinal Effects of the Transcendental Meditation Technique on EEG Power and Coherence International Journal of Neuroscience 1981
- Autonomic and EEG patterns during eyes-closed rest and transcendental meditation (TM) practice: the basis for a neural model of TM practice. Consciousness and Cognition September 1999
- Autonomic patterns during respiratory suspensions: possible markers of Transcendental Consciousness. Psychophysiology January 1997
and 3 more in the library