Physiological and subjective effects of Zen meditation and demand characteristics.
James F. Malec, Carl N. Sipprelle
Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 1977 DOI: 10.1037//0022-006x.45.2.339 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 40 |
| Population | Male undergraduate volunteers |
| Duration | A baseline period, a treatment period, and a recovery period |
| Topics | Buddhism Meditation |
| Citations | 17 |
| Key findings | Zen meditation produced small physiological changes in naive, unpracticed subjects: respiration rate and electromyogram decreased and heart rate increased, then gradually declined during treatment. Differences among groups in self-reported mood were not statistically reliable. The demand manipulation (relaxation, neutral, or arousal instructions) did not produce reliable mood differences. |
Abstract
Forty male undergraduate volunteers were assigned to one of four groups. During the treatment period, the control group was asked to “just sit there.” The deactivation demand, neutral demand, and activation demand groups were shown a videotape demonstrating the Zen meditation exercise “counting breaths” and modeling and suggesting relaxation outcome, no specific outcome, and arousal outcome for each group, respectively. A baseline period preceded and a recovery period followed treatment. Respiration rate and electromyogram decreased and heart rate increased, then gradually declined for the meditation groups during the treatment period. Differences among groups in self-reported mood were not statistically reliable. Results show that Zen meditation produces small physiological changes in naive, unpracticed subjects.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on buddhism, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 4
- Rescatando al sujeto: Una perspectiva budista sobre los estudios de la conciencia Girasol/Revista humanidades September 13, 2015
- Effects of expectancy on physiological responsivity in novice meditators. Biological Psychology September 1, 1985
- Physiological responses during meditation and rest. Biofeedback and self-regulation June 1, 1984
- Overview: clinical and physiological comparison of meditation with other self-control strategies. American Journal of Psychiatry March 1982