Sympathetic activity and transcendental meditation.
R Lang, K Dehof, K A Meurer, W Kaufmann
Journal of Neural Transmission 1979 DOI: 10.1007/bf01252706 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 20 |
| Population | Ten male advanced meditators and ten male long-term meditators |
| Interventions | Meditation Reading Physical exercise |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | Daily catecholamine and VMA excretion was higher in advanced meditators, and the groups differed in excretion patterns, with long-term meditators showing higher adrenaline excretion after exercise. After meditation, advanced meditators had a significant plasma noradrenaline increase and no further increase during exercise, plus about a 9% heart rate reduction and slightly raised diastolic blood pressure. |
Abstract
Ten male advanced meditators and ten male long-term meditators subjected themselves four times to slight physical exercise following a period of rest, meditation or reading. Daily urine excretions of catecholamines and VMA were determined in both groups. On the experimental days 4-hour urine specimens, one before and one after the experiments, were again collected for analysis. During the experiments blood pressure and heart rate were measured continuously and blood samples were taken for plasma catecholamine levels immediately before and after the physical exercise. Daily catecholamine and VMA excretions showed to be higher in advanced meditators. During the experiments the pattern of noradrenaline, adrenaline and VMA excretions were different in both groups, long-term meditators showing a higher adrenaline excretion after exercise. After the resting period there was in both groups a similar increase of plasma catecholamine levels during exercise. However, after meditation the advanced meditators showed a significant increase in plasma noradrenaline and no further increase in plasma noradrenaline level during the following physical exercise. Also after the reading period differences between both groups in plasma catecholamine levels during exercise could be observed. In advanced meditators heart rate reduction after meditation was about 9% and diastolic blood pressure was slightly raised. The preceding conditions of rest, meditation or reading had a significant different influence on the behaviour of heart rate and blood pressure during the following physical exercise and this pattern was different for both groups.
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 17
- Effectiveness of the Transcendental Meditation Program in Preventing and Treating Substance Misuse: A Review International Journal of the Addictions 1991
- Impact of Integrated Amrita Meditation Technique on Adrenaline and Cortisol Levels in Healthy Volunteers Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2011
- A selective review of dharana and dhyana in healthy participants Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine October 1, 2016
- Fear and Terror in Buddhist Meditation Journal of Cognitive Historiography December 24, 2022
- Short-term meditation training alters brain activity and sympathetic responses at rest, but not during meditation Scientific Reports May 15, 2024
and 12 more in the library
Cites 6
- Physiological Effects of Transcendental Meditation Science March 27, 1970
- Evaluation of Transcendental Meditation as a Method of Reducing Stress Science June 18, 1976
- Sleep During Transcendental Meditation Science January 23, 1976
- Transcendental Meditation and Asthma Respiration January 14, 2009
- Autonomic Stability and Transcendental Meditation Psychosomatic Medicine July 1, 1973
and 1 more in the library