A comparison of somatic relaxation and EEG activity in classical progressive relaxation and transcendental meditation.
Stephen Warrenburg, Robert R. Pagano, M Woods, M Hlastala
Journal of behavioral medicine March 1980 DOI: 10.1007/bf00844915 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Long-term practitioners of Jacobson's progressive relaxation, long-term Transcendental Meditation practitioners, and novice progressive relaxation trainees |
| Interventions | Jacobson's progressive relaxation Transcendental Meditation |
| Measures | oxygen consumption, electroencephalogram (EEG) |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | All three groups showed similar small reductions in somatic activity during relaxation or meditation and eyes-closed rest (about 2-5% in oxygen consumption), supporting the "relaxation response" model for state changes but not a hypometabolic state. The authors conclude that progressive relaxation causes a generalized trait of somatic relaxation, as long-term PR practitioners showed lower somatic activity across all conditions than novice PR and long-term TM groups. |
Abstract
Oxygen consumption, electroencephalogram (EEG), and four other measures of somatic relaxation were monitored in groups of long-term practitioners of classical Jacobson's progressive relaxation (PR) and Transcendental Meditation (TM) and also in a group of novice PR trainees. All subjects (1) practiced relaxation or meditation (treatment), (2) sat with eyes closed (EC control), and (3) read from a travel book during two identical sessions on different days. EEG findings indicated that all three groups remained primarily awake during treatment and EC control and that several subjects in each group displayed rare theta (5-7 Hz) waveforms. All three groups demonstrated similar decrements in somatic activity during treatment and EC control which were generally of small magnitude (e. g., 2-5% in oxygen consumption). These results supported the "relaxation response" model for state changes in somatic relaxation for techniques practiced under low levels of stress but not the claim that the relaxation response produced a hypometabolic state. Despite similar state effects, the long-term PR group manifested lower levels of somatic activity across all conditions compared to both novice PR and long-term TM groups. We concluded that PR causes a generalized trait of somatic relaxation which is manifested in a variety of settings and situations. Two likely explanations for this trait were discussed: (1) PR practitioners are taught to generalize relaxation to daily activities, and/or (2) according to a "multiprocess model," PR is a "somatic technique," which should produce greater somatic relaxation than does TM, a "cognitive technique." Further research is required to elucidate these possibilities.