Behavioral alteration of plasma phenylalanine concentration.
R Jevning, H C Pirkle, A F Wilson
Physiology & Behavior November 1977 DOI: 10.1016/0031-9384(77)90034-8 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Controlled comparison (observational physiological study) Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Practitioners of transcendental meditation and control participants (long-term practitioners mentioned) |
| Interventions | Transcendental meditation Control relaxation |
| Duration | 40 minutes per session |
| Measures | Plasma amino acid concentration, electro-oculogram, electroencephalogram, electromyogram |
| Key findings | Phenylalanine concentration increased during 40 minutes of transcendental meditation but showed no change during 40 minutes of control relaxation. Total sleep time and sleep stage percentages did not differ between groups. The authors suggest the phenylalanine increase is related to TM practice, citing its stability in controls and lack of correlation with sleep in long-term practitioners. |
Abstract
The concentration of 13 neutral and acidic plasma amino acids was measured before, during and after either 40 min of control relaxation or 40 min of the process known as transcendental meditation (TM). An electro-oculogram, electroencephalogram, and electromyogram were simultaneously monitored in these subjects. Increased phenylalanine concentration was noted during TM practice with no change during control relaxation; no difference between the groups of total time slept or sleep stage percent was observed. The stability of phenylalanine concentration in controls and lack of correlation of increased phenylalanine with sleep in the long-term practitioners seem to suggest a relationship of the phenylalanine increase to TM practice.
Citations in the library
Cited by 7
- Ketosis with enhanced GABAergic tone promotes physiological changes in transcendental meditation. Medical Hypotheses April 2000
- Serum hormonal concentrations following transcendental meditation--potential role of gamma aminobutyric acid. Medical Hypotheses April 1, 1995
- The physiology of meditation: a review. A wakeful hypometabolic integrated response. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews 1992
- Marked reduction of forearm carbon dioxide production during states of decreased metabolism. Physiology & Behavior 1987
- Evaluation of meditation and relaxation on physiological response during the performance of fine motor and gross motor tasks. Perceptual and Motor Skills February 1, 1986
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