Transcendental Meditation Practice Research Articles

Transcendental Meditation practitioners show reduced expression of the Conserved Transcriptional Response to Adversity

Background and objectivesA recent exploratory study of transcriptional effects of long-term practice of Transcendental Meditation (TM) technologies found evidence for altered expression of genes associated with health and disease. In the present secondary analysis of those data, we test the more specific hypothesis that this sample of long-term practitioners shows a significant reduction in markers of the “Conserved Transcriptional Response to Adversity” (CTRA), an RNA profile characterized by up-regulated inflammation and down-regulated Type I interferon (IFN) activity. Materials and methodsData come from a previously published study providing genome-wide transcriptional profiles of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from healthy, 38-year practitioners of TM technologies and matched controls (n = 12, mean age 65). The current analysis specifically tests for differential expression of a previously established CTRA indicator gene score, with cross-validation by promoter-based bioinformatic analysis of CTRA-typical differences in transcription factor activity and monocyte subset cellular origins. ResultsCompared to controls, the TM group showed lower expression of a pre-specified set of CTRA indicator genes. These effects were accompanied by genome-wide indications of down-regulated pro-inflammatory transcription factor activity (NF-κB, AP-1), up-regulated activity of Interferon Response Factors (IRF) and reduced transcriptional activity of classical monocytes. Conclusions: A sample of long-term practitioners of TM showed reduced CTRA gene expression in PBMC compared to matched controls, supporting the likely value of further research to evaluate causality and specificity of this potential mechanism of health benefits in meditators.

The Impact of Transcendental Meditation: Reducing Burnout and Enhancing Well-Being in Frontline Healthcare Clinicians During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Healthcare clinicians experience high rates of professional burnout, and there is increasing concern about the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on emotional well-being. Given the intense stress related to caring for COVID-19 patients, there is a need for practical, evidence-informed interventions that can help support clinician well-being. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of the Transcendental Meditation (TM) intervention in a sample of 32 healthcare clinicians who provided care to COVID-19 patients. Participants received formal instruction in TM and were encouraged to practice TM twice daily during the three-month study period. After one month, statistically significant improvements were seen for the burnout factor of emotional exhaustion, depression, anxiety, and mental well-being. After three months, these improvements were maintained with additional improvement in the burnout factor of personal accomplishment. The largest effect sizes were found for depression, mental well-being, anxiety, and emotional exhaustion. Participants reported high rates of daily TM practice, thereby supporting the feasibility of the approach for busy clinicians. This study contributes to the growing body of knowledge supporting TM as an effective practice to reduce burnout and improve well-being.

Improving the mental health and well-being of healthcare providers using the transcendental meditation technique during the COVID-19 pandemic: A parallel population study.

Frontline Healthcare provider (HCP) burnout has dramatically increased due to the COVID 19 pandemic. Hospitals are supporting wellness programs and techniques to reduce burnout including the Transcendental Meditation (TM) technique. This study evaluated the use of TM on HCP symptoms of stress, burnout and wellness. A total of 65 HCPs at three South Florida hospitals were recruited and instructed in the TM technique which they practiced at home for 20 minutes twice a day. A parallel lifestyle as usual control group was enrolled. Validated measurement scales (Brief Symptom Inventory 18 (BSI-18), Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey [MBI-HSS (MP)] and the Warwick Edinburgh Mental Well Being Scale (WEMWBS) were administered at baseline, 2 weeks, one and three months. No significant demographic differences were seen between the 2 groups; however, some baseline scales were higher in the TM group. TM average weekly session completion rate was very high at 83%. After 2-weeks, symptoms of somatization, depression, and anxiety in the TM group had all shown near 45% reductions, while insomnia, emotional exhaustion, and well-being had improved by 33%, 16%, and 11% respectively (P = 0.02 for somatization and < .001 for all others); no significant change was noted in the LAU group. At 3-months, in the TM group, the improvement in symptoms showed a mean reduction of in anxiety, 62%, somatization, 58%, depression, 50%, insomnia, 44%, emotional exhaustion 40%, depersonalization, 42%, and improvement of well-being 18% (for all p<0.004). P-values for between-group differences in change from baseline, based upon repeated measures ANCOVA covarying for baseline measurements, showed significance for all scales at 3-months. The study confirmed the reported significant and rapid benefits of the practice of TM and demonstrated its positive psychological impact on healthcare workers in a high stress setting.

Accounts of home isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic: Case of Peruvian indigenous students

Most of the literature that has emerged about the impacts of home isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic suggests it causes mildly to acutely adverse psychosocial and physiological responses, particularly in children. Such responses relate to the separation children experience from their normal routine, including loneliness, anxiety, and depression, and adversities associated with school performance. In this case study, we explore the intersection between three phenomena in Perú: (1) practice of Transcendental Meditation by school students at a (2) provincial school during (3) home isolation. The study conducted semi-structured interviews at a school in Puno with seven students, three parents, and two teachers. A proto-theoretical model of stress, the stress response, and outcomes in three psychosocial categories—cognitive, affective, and conative—guide the research. Findings suggest the practice had a salutary effect on student experience and academic achievement, including multifactorial benefits related to learning, calmness, anxiety, and grades.

Efficacy of Transcendental Meditation to Reduce Stress Among Health Care Workers

Health care workers (HCWs) have been experiencing substantial stress and burnout, and evidence-based mitigation strategies are needed. Transcendental Meditation (TM) is a mantra meditation practice with potential efficacy in reducing stress. To assess the efficacy of TM practice in reducing stress among HCWs over a 3-month period. This single-center open-label randomized clinical trial was conducted among HCWs at an academic medical center from November 19, 2020, to August 31, 2021. Inclusion criteria comprised a score of 6 points or greater on the Subjective Units of Distress Scale and an increase of 5% or greater in baseline heart rate or an increase of 33% or greater in galvanic skin response after exposure to a stressful script. Exclusion criteria included the use of antipsychotic or β blocker medications, current suicidal ideation, or previous TM training. Of 213 HCWs who participated in prescreening, 95 attended in-person visits, resulting in 80 eligible participants who were randomized to receive a TM intervention (TM group) or usual treatment (control group). The TM group practiced TM for 20 minutes twice daily over a 3-month period. The control group received usual treatment, which consisted of access to wellness resources. The primary outcome was change in acute psychological distress measured by the Global Severity Index. Secondary outcomes included changes in burnout (measured by the Maslach Burnout Inventory), insomnia (measured by the Insomnia Severity Index), and anxiety (measured by the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 scale). Among 80 participants, 66 (82.5%) were women, with a mean (SD) age of 40 (11) years. One participant (1.3%) was American Indian or Alaska Native, 5 (6.3%) were Asian, 12 (15.0%) were Black, 59 (73.8%) were White, and 3 (3.8%) were of unknown or unreported race; 4 participants (5.0%) were Hispanic, and 76 (95.0%) were non-Hispanic. A total of 41 participants were randomized to the TM group, and 39 were randomized to the control group. Participants in the TM group did not show a statistically significant decrease in psychological distress on the Global Severity Index compared with those in the control group (-5.6 points vs -3.8 points; between-group difference, -1.8 points; 95% CI, -4.2 to 0.6 points; P = .13). Compared with the control group, the TM group had significantly greater reductions in the secondary end points of emotional exhaustion (Maslach Burnout Inventory subscore: -8.0 points vs -2.6 points; between-group difference, -5.4 points; 95% CI, -9.2 to -1.6 points; P = .006), insomnia (Insomnia Severity Scale score: -4.1 points vs -1.9 points; between-group difference, -2.2 points; 95% CI, -4.4 to 0 points; P = .05), and anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 score: -3.1 points vs -0.9 points; between-group difference, -2.2 points; 95% CI, -3.8 to -0.5; P = .01) at 3 months. A total of 38 participants (92.7%) in the TM group adhered to home practice. In this randomized clinical trial, TM practice among HCWs over a 3-month period did not result in a statistically significant reduction in the primary outcome of acute psychological distress compared with usual treatment but significantly improved the secondary outcomes of burnout, anxiety, and insomnia. These findings suggest that TM may be a safe and effective strategy to alleviate chronic stress among HCWs. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04632368.

Evaluating a Field Theory of Consciousness and Social Change: Group Practice of Transcendental Meditation and Homicide Trends

This study outlines and empirically tests a field-theoretic view of consciousness and positive social change based on the ancient Vedic tradition of knowledge from India (Veda means “knowledge” in Sanskrit) as brought to light by the Vedic scholar and scientist of consciousness, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. In contrast to most contemporary theories of mind and consciousness originating in the West, Maharishi’s Vedic science of consciousness posits the existence of an interpersonal, nonlocalized dimension of consciousness that underlies both individual consciousness and the “collective consciousness” of society, or “national consciousness.” We review previous empirical tests in Cambodia, India, the Philippines (and other countries) of hypotheses derived from this field-theoretic view of consciousness. We then present new empirical results, which together with prior research, provide evidence for an interpersonal dimension to consciousness. Segmented-trend regression analysis of data from a prospective, 15-year U.S. national social experiment found support for the hypothesis that “field effects of consciousness” created by group practice of Transcendental Meditation® and its advanced technique, the TM-Sidhi® program, by a theoretically predicted number of participants contributed to a reduction in social stress in national consciousness as indicated by improved monthly homicide trends during the study’s experimental period 2007-2011 (p &lt; .0001). These results are consistent with significant reductions in crime and violence associated with group practice of the TM® and TM-Sidhi® program as reported in previous peer-reviewed research. This reduction was followed by a predicted subsequent increase in homicide trends 2012-2016 (p &lt; .0001) after the group fell below the required size (approximately the √1% of the U.S. population).

Consciousness is Primary: Science of Consciousness for the 21st Century

In the 20th century, the understanding of matter was transformed from a world of classical objects to a world of probabilities that were excitations of non-material quantum fields. Psychology may be involved in a similar transformation. In the 20th century, psychological models included specific &amp;ldquo;classical&amp;rdquo; content such as memories, attention, or emotions. However, some thinkers model consciousness as more field-like. Chalmers asserts that consciousness is an irreducible part of matter, along with time and space. Goff maintains that consciousness permeates reality and is expressed in degrees in different structures. Tononi&amp;rsquo;s Integrated Information Theory posits that consciousness is a fundamental property of any physical system and the degree of consciousness expressed reflects the power of the present state to affect the probability of its past and future states. Nader&amp;rsquo;s model goes beyond these concepts and postulates that consciousness is a nonmaterial, non-physical reality that exists entirely by itself. It has an ontological existence and generates matter, governs the interaction between material structures and is responsible for individual subjective experiences. This model is supported by direct experience of the field of consciousness, called pure consciousness, during Transcendental Meditation practice. This allows empirical investigation of pure consciousness and of higher states of consciousness when pure consciousness is integrated with daily experiences.

Fatores associados à prática da meditação transcendental em idosos

Aims: To evaluate factors associated with the practice of transcendental meditation (TM) in the elderly. Methods: Cross-sectional study, with the inclusion of 113 older adults and women, 60 of them practitioners and 53 non-MT practitioners. A semi-structured questionnaire was used as an instrument, composed of sociodemographic, health and TM practice data. Data analysis was performed using the chi-square test and binary logistic regression. Results: The average age of practitioners was lower than that of non-practitioners (63.7 ± 4.0 vs. 69.1 ± 6.6 years). Most of the sample had completed higher education (f = 45; 75%; p = 0.001) and received more than three minimum wages (f = 40; 67.8%; p = 0.001). In the group of TM practitioners there was a greater proportion of individuals with excellent / good self-perceived health (91.7% vs 77.4%; p = 0.034), and less hospitalization in the last semester (5% vs 24.5 %; p = 0.003). Older adults who denied hospitalization or the presence of diabetes mellitus (DM) presented, respectively, 5.7 (95% CI OR 1.1 - 28.9) and 4.9 (95% CI OR 1.3 - 19.2) times chance to practice MT. The practice of TM is 80% more likely to be practiced by older adults with better self-perceived health (OR 0.17; 95% CI 0.03 - 0.96). Conclusion: The practice of a holistic activity such as TM is associated with better self-perceived health than older adults of the same age, and less chance of hospitalization in the last semester and the presence of DM.

A Strategy for Functional Health and Well-Being in Cambodian University Faculty and Staff

The range of outcomes and published record on the Transcendental Meditation technique across 50 years of research in education, business, and government makes its application unique. Its association with health and relation to an individual’s quality-of-life have also made the technique useful in some developing countries.&#x0D; Data related to application of the technique to higher education in Cambodia have been accruing since the early 1990s. The 26-year research program begun by these authors associated with Transcendental Meditation and non-verbal intelligence, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, learning, memory, and personality in university students, as well as its collective effects on economic and social indicators and reductions in socio-political violence and crime, makes for an uncommonly rich body of knowledge in a country where empirical research has been rare. Indeed, the early studies in this research program represented among the first published research on higher education since the 1960s, after which Cambodia was plunged into civil war, genocide, and ongoing social turmoil and political conflict until 1993.&#x0D; The present study, which is a modified version of a study previously published in ASEAN Journal of Education, extends this research program to include a preliminary investigation of the practice of Transcendental Meditation by faculty and staff in three regional Cambodian universities and examines its impact on health and well-being. Findings generated by a concurrent, quasi-experimental mixed methods design suggest the practice may be of benefit to university personnel as measured by physical mental and social health, perceived health, self-esteem, anxiety, and depression, among other quality-of-life variables, thereby adding to previous results associated with higher education in this increasingly important south-east Asian nation.&#x0D; &#x0D;

Does the MRI/fMRI Procedure Itself Confound the Results of Meditation Research? An Evaluation of Subjective and Neurophysiological Measures of TM Practitioners in a Simulated MRI Environment.

Early research into meditation, including Transcendental Meditation (TM), relied exclusively on EEG to measure brain activity during meditation practice. Since the advent of neural imaging, MRI, and later fMRI, have dominated this field. Unfortunately, the use of this technology rests on the questionable assumption that lying down in a confining tube while exposed to very loud sounds would not interfere with the meditation practice. The present study was designed to assess the effects of the fMRI procedure on both the subjective and neurophysiological responses of short and long-term TM practitioners. Twenty-three TM practitioners volunteered to participate in this study: 11 short-term meditators, averaging 2.2 years practice, and 12 long-term meditators, averaging 34.8 years. The repeated-measures design included two activities for each participant, eyes-closed rest, and TM practice, in each of three conditions: sitting quietly in an upright position (normal TM practice); lying quietly in a supine position; and lying, with earplugs, inside a simulated fMRI tube (simMRI), while exposed to 110 dB recordings of an actual fMRI machine. Subjective experiences were collected after each activity in each condition. Physiological arousal was recorded using skin conductance levels. Scalp EEG was averaged into eight frequency bands within frontal and parietal leads; eLORETA software was used to explore the 3-D cortical distribution of EEG sources. During the simMRI condition, participants reported having more shallow meditation experiences, and greater agitation/distraction. Skin conductance levels paralleled self-reports, decreasing least during the simMRI condition. Frontal and parietal power decreased from sitting to simMRI in the alpha2 through gamma bands. Parietal power was higher during rest compared to TM in the alpha1 through beta2 bands. Frontal and parietal alpha1 coherence were highest during the simMRI condition. The eLORETA analysis revealed that the default mode network was more active during TM when sitting compared to the simMRI condition. The responses to the supine condition were generally between sitting and simMRI, with some significant exceptions. In conclusion, these data indicate that the fMRI procedure itself (high dB noise; lying down) strongly influences subjective and neurophysiological responses during meditation practice, and may therefore confound the interpretation of results from fMRI studies.

Temporal and spatial characteristics of meditation EEG.

This article discusses the importance of decisions made about the temporal and spatial characteristics of EEG during recording and analysis of meditation practices. A recent meta-analysis averaged EEG in the alpha1 and alpha2 bands to characterize mindfulness practices. This ignored known differences in cognitive processing associated with these two bands, and so confounded their conclusion about brain patterns during mindfulness. Another paper averaged EEG from central electrodes, which reflect activity of motor cortices, and frontal electrodes, which reflect activity of the frontal association cortices, to characterize Transcendental Meditation practice. This averaged the signals from motor and frontal cortices, which respond to different behaviors, and so confounded any conclusion about the nature of brain patterns during Transcendental Meditation practice. Also, both of these papers reported power-derived measures. This misses the connectivity information that is captured in coherence analysis. Meditation researchers should (a) investigate narrow frequency bands, especially theta1, theta2, alpha1 and alpha2, which are known to reflect different cognitive processes, (b) average EEG over theoretically known spatial areas, and (c) employ power as well as coherence analysis to more accurately define different categories of meditation practices and more reliably apply meditation practices to specific subject populations. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

Reductions in perceived stress following Transcendental Meditation practice are associated with increased brain regional connectivity at rest

Transcendental Meditation (TM) is defined as a mental process of transcending using a silent mantra. Previous work showed that relatively brief period of TM practice leads to decreases in stress and anxiety. However, whether these changes are subserved by specific morpho-functional brain modifications (as observed in other meditation techniques) is still unclear. Using a longitudinal design, we combined psychometric questionnaires, structural and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (RS-fMRI) to investigate the potential brain modifications underlying the psychological effects of TM. The final sample included 19 naïve subjects instructed to complete two daily 20-min TM sessions, and 15 volunteers in the control group. Both groups were evaluated at recruitment (T0) and after 3 months (T1). At T1, only meditators showed a decrease in perceived anxiety and stress (t(18) = 2.53, p = 0.02), which correlated negatively with T1-T0 changes in functional connectivity among posterior cingulate cortex (PCC), precuneus and left superior parietal lobule. Additionally, TM practice was associated with increased connectivity between PCC and right insula, likely reflecting changes in interoceptive awareness. No structural changes were observed in meditators or control subjects. These preliminary findings indicate that beneficial effects of TM may be mediated by functional brain changes that take place after a short practice period of 3 months.

Reduction of PTSD in South African University Students Using Transcendental Meditation Practice.

A study was conducted on South African college students using the Transcendental Meditation technique to reduce posttraumatic stress disorder. Students meeting the criteria for possible posttraumatic stress disorder were included. Thirty-four students at the experimental university in South Africa clinically diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder were instructed in and practiced the Transcendental Meditation technique twice daily compared to 34 diagnosed posttraumatic stress disorder comparison students at the comparison university. The multivariate effect was significant for both the posttraumatic stress disorder symptomatology and depression. Results were significantly associated with regularity of practice. The study replicates recent findings and offers an alternative educational treatment for higher education.

Non-trauma-focused meditation versus exposure therapy in veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder: a randomised controlled trial

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a complex and difficult-to-treat disorder, affecting 10-20% of military veterans. Previous research has raised the question of whether a non-trauma-focused treatment can be as effective as trauma exposure therapy in reducing PTSD symptoms. This study aimed to compare the non-trauma-focused practice of Transcendental Meditation (TM) with prolonged exposure therapy (PE) in a non-inferiority clinical trial, and to compare both therapies with a control of PTSD health education (HE). We did a randomised controlled trial at the Department of Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System in CA, USA. We included 203 veterans with a current diagnosis of PTSD resulting from active military service randomly assigned to a TM or PE group, or an active control group of HE, using stratified block randomisation. Each treatment provided 12 sessions over 12 weeks, with daily home practice. TM and HE were mainly given in a group setting and PE was given individually. The primary outcome was change in PTSD symptom severity over 3 months, assessed by the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS). Analysis was by intention to treat. We hypothesised that TM would show non-inferiority to PE in improvement of CAPS score (Δ=10), with TM and PE superior to PTSD HE. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01865123. Between June 10, 2013, and Oct 7, 2016, 203 veterans were randomly assigned to an intervention group (68 to the TM group, 68 to the PE group, and 67 to the PTSD HE group). TM was significantly non-inferior to PE on change in CAPS score from baseline to 3-month post-test (difference between groups in mean change -5·9, 95% CI -14·3 to 2·4, p=0·0002). In standard superiority comparisons, significant reductions in CAPS scores were found for TM versus PTSD HE (-14·6 95% CI, -23·3 to -5·9, p=0·0009), and PE versus PTSD HE (-8·7 95% CI, -17·0 to -0·32, p=0·041). 61% of those receiving TM, 42% of those receiving PE, and 32% of those receiving HE showed clinically significant improvements on the CAPS score. A non-trauma-focused-therapy, TM, might be a viable option for decreasing the severity of PTSD symptoms in veterans and represents an efficacious alternative for veterans who prefer not to receive or who do not respond to traditional exposure-based treatments of PTSD. Department of Defense, US Army Medical Research.

FMRI during Transcendental Meditation practice

This study used a within group design to investigate blood flow patterns (fMRI) in 16 long-term practitioners of Transcendental Meditation (mean practice: 34.3 years with each having over 36,000 h of meditation practice). During Transcendental Meditation practice, blood flow patterns were significantly higher in executive and attention areas (anterior cingulate and dorsolateral prefrontal cortices) and significantly lower in arousal areas (pons and cerebellum). This pattern supports the understanding that Transcendental Meditation practice requires minimal effort. During Transcendental Meditation, the attentional system was active (heightened blood flow in anterior cingulate and dorsolateral prefrontal cortices) in an automatic manner—decreased blood flow in the pons and cerebellum. This pattern of heightened blood flow in attentional areas and decreased blood flow in arousal areas has not been reported during other meditation practices. Future research should investigate blood flow patterns in different meditation practices in the same study.

Integration of Transcendental Meditation® (TM) into alcohol use disorder (AUD) treatment

AimsMaladaptive responses to stress are thought to play a role in addiction and relapse. Transcendental Meditation (TM) is a popular meditation technique with promising clinical applications. This study sought to: (a) examine the feasibility of providing TM during AUD treatment; (b) compare outcomes for TM vs. treatment as usual (TAU); and (c) investigate the relationship between TM practice and outcomes. MethodsMeditation-naïve adults with primary AUD (N = 60; 35% female, 60% white) newly admitted to inpatient treatment were recruited in sequential cohorts (30 receiving TAU and 30 receiving TM training). Assessments were conducted at baseline and 3-months post-discharge. ResultsIntegrating TM into inpatient AUD treatment was feasible. Uptake of TM was high (85% meditating on most of the past 30 days at follow-up; 61% closely adherent to recommended practice of twice-daily TM). Participants reported high satisfaction with TM. The sample as a whole improved on multiple measures after AUD treatment, but there were no significant differences between TM and TAU cohorts. However, those practicing TM twice-daily as recommended were less likely than the rest of the sample to return to any drinking (25% vs. 59%; p = .02) or heavy drinking post-discharge (0% vs. 47%, p < .001). Greater regularity of TM practice was inversely correlated with stress, psychological distress, craving, and alcohol use at follow-up. ConclusionsThis study established the feasibility and acceptability of using TM during AUD treatment. Consistently practicing TM (but not just learning it) was associated with better outcomes. These promising findings warrant further investigation in larger, controlled studies.

The Transcendental Meditation Program's Impact on the Symptoms of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder of Veterans: An Uncontrolled Pilot Study.

Current treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are only partially effective. This study evaluated whether an extensively researched stress reduction method, the Transcendental Meditation (TM) technique, can reduce the PTSD symptoms of veterans. Previous research suggested that TM practice can decrease veterans' PTSD symptoms. A one-group pretest-posttest design was used to evaluate the impact of TM practice on reducing PTSD symptoms. A convenience sample of 89 veterans completed PTSD Checklist-Civilian (PCL-5) questionnaires. Among those, 46 scored above 33, the threshold for provisional diagnosis of PTSD, and were included in this evaluation. The PCL-5 measured PTSD symptoms at baseline and 30 and 90 d after intervention. Regularity of TM practice was recorded. Paired sample t-tests were used to assess within-group changes from baseline to post-intervention periods. Analysis of variance was used to compare full-dose (two 20-min TM sessions per day) and half-dose (one 20-min TM session per day) groups. After 1 mo of TM practice, all 46 veterans responded; their PCL-5 average decreased from 51.52 in the pre-intervention period to a post-intervention mean of 23.43, a decline of 28.09 points (-54.5%); standard deviation: 14.57; confidence interval: 23.76-32.41; and effect size: -1.93; p < 0.0001. The median PTSD scores declined from 52.5 to 22.5, a decrease of 30 points (-57%), while 40 veterans (87%) had clinically significant declines (>10 points) in PTSD symptoms, and 37 (80%) dropped below the clinical level (<33). At the 90 d posttest, 31 of the 46 responded and three more dropped below the 33 threshold. Intent-to-treat analyses revealed clinically and statistically significant effects. A dose-response effect suggested a causal relationship. The full-dose group exhibited larger mean declines in PTSD symptoms than the half-dose group. Averages of the 46 veterans' responses to 20 PCL-5 questions exhibited significant (p < 0.0001) declines from the pre-intervention period to the 30-d post-intervention assessment. Results indicated that TM practice reduced PTSD symptoms without re-experiencing trauma. Because of the magnitude of these results and dose-response effect, regression to the mean, spontaneous remission of symptoms, and placebo effects are unlikely explanations for the results. Major limitations were absence of random assignment and lack of a control group. Participants chose to start and continue TM practice and to complete PCL-5 questionnaires. Those who self-selected to enter this study may not be representative of all veterans who have PTSD. Those who did not complete follow-up questionnaires at 90 d may or may not have had the same results as those who responded. The design and sampling method affect the generalizability of the results to wider populations. When taking into account these results and all previous research on the TM technique in reducing psychological and physiological stress, the convergence of evidence suggests that TM practice may offer a promising adjunct or alternative method for treating PTSD. Because of the widely recognized need to identify effective new approaches for treating PTSD, randomized research with control groups is warranted to further investigate the effectiveness of TM practice as a treatment for PTSD.

Evaluation of Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Transcendental Meditation in Pregnant Women

Evaluation of Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Transcendental Meditation in Pregnant Women

EEG microstates during different phases of Transcendental Meditation practice.

Two phases of Transcendental Meditation (TM)-transcending and undirected mentation-were compared to each other and to task-free resting using multichannel EEG recorded from 20 TM practitioners. An EEG microstate analysis identified four classes of microstates which were labeled A, B, C and D, based on their similarity to previously published classes. For each class of microstates, mean duration, coverage and occurrence were computed. Resting and transcending differed from undirected mentation with decreased prominence of Class A and increased prominence of Class D microstates. In addition, transcending showed decreased prominence of Class C microstates compared to undirected mentation. Based on previous findings on the functional significance of the microstate classes, the results indicate an increased reference to reality and decreased visualization during resting and transcending compared to undirected mentation. Also, our results indicate decreased saliency of internally generated mentations during transcending compared to undirected mentation reflecting a more detached and less evaluative processing. It is proposed that the continuous cycling through these two phases of meditation during a TM session might facilitate and train the flexible modulation of the parameters of these microstates of these particular classes which are known to be altered in psychiatric disorders. This might promote beneficial stabilizing effects for the practitioner of TM.

Higher theta and alpha1 coherence when listening to Vedic recitation compared to coherence during Transcendental Meditation practice.

This study compared subjective experiences and EEG patterns in 37 subjects when listening to live Vedic recitation and when practicing Transcendental Meditation (TM). Content analysis of experiences when listening to Vedic recitation yielded three higher-order code. Experiences during Vedic recitation were: (1) deeper than during TM practice; (2) experienced as an inner process; and (3) characterized by lively silence. EEG patterns support these higher-order codes. Theta2 and alpha1 frontal, parietal, and frontal-parietal coherence were significantly higher when listening to Vedic recitation, than during TM practice. Theta2 coherence is seen when attending to internal mental processes. Higher theta2 coherence supports subjects' descriptions that the Vedic recitations were "not external sounds but internal vibrations." Alpha1 coherence is reported during pure consciousness experiences during TM practice. Higher alpha1 coherence supports subjects' descriptions that they "experienced a depth of experience, rarely experienced even during deep TM practice." These data support the utility of listening to Vedic recitation to culture deep inner experiences.