Research and Transcendental Meditation practice Fred Travis, PhD Director, Center for Brain, Consciousness and Cognition Maharishi University of Management Fairfield, Iowa

Gamma Beta Alpha Theta Delta Problem solving, concentration Busy, active mind Reflective, restful Drowsiness Sleep, dreaming The human brain emits faint electrical impulses that can be measured and recorded by EEG (electroencephalographic) monitoring devices. An EEG measurement identifies wavelengths (or frequencies) of brainwaves. 2

Typical EEG Tracings A typical EEG tracing is a rapidly changing composite or combination of different frequencies—waves moving up and down at different rates—some slow, some fast. During ordinary waking consciousness, EEG patterns are complex, scattered and disorderly. 3

Brain waves rise and fall EEG Coherence: Brain waves rise and fall in a stable pattern High EEG coherence is seen during restful alertness. Here we see the electrical activity from 11 points of the brain during transcending. Top and bottom of this chart are the front left and front right parts of the brain. Notice how the signals between pairs of sensors are rising up and down together. This is called coherence. Coherence means that two parts of the brain are talking to each other—are functionally linked.   This is global coherence. The brain as a whole is more wakeful, is more lively. Alpha EEG as a carrier wave for higher processing and higher EEG frequencies. The more coherent the alpha carrier wave, the more efficient the person would respond—better performance on spatial tasks, memory tasks, creativity scores and paired reaction time tasks. Frontal alpha coherence is not reported in other meditation practices. 4

Eyes-Closed vs TM practice Raw EEG Tracing

Task: 5 sec – 0 sec Alpha Beta Gamma

TM: 30 sec – 35 sec Alpha Beta Gamma

Cortical Preparatory Response Brain Integration Scale Alpha/ gamma ratio Cortical Preparatory Response Broad Band Coherence

During TM Practice Four Months Eight Years Travis, 1991 10

Eyes Open Four Months Eight Years Travis, 1991 11

American University College Students (random assignment to groups) Brain Integration during tasks (3-mon TM) Travis et al, (2009) International Journal of Psychophysiology, 71, 170-176.

American University College Students (random assignment to groups) Brain Integration during tasks (3-mon TM) Travis et al, (2009) International Journal of Psychophysiology, 71, 170-176.

American University College Students (random assignment to groups) Brain Integration during tasks (3-mon TM) Travis et al, (2009) International Journal of Psychophysiology, 71, 170-176.

So Kam Tim, Orme-Johnson DW. Intelligence 2001 29(5):419-440 Seven Different Measures of Intelligence Contemplation vs no-treatment Group Embedded and inspection time TM vs Contemplation All but group embedded and CFIT The numbers from the published paper.  According to the figure caption, this is the "mean of the TM group compared to the Napping group in expt1, and the no-treatment groups in Expt 2 and 3. Creativity .77 Practical Intelligence .62 Field Independence .58 State anxiety .53 Trait anxiety .52 Inspection time .39 Fluid Intelligence .34 So Kam Tim, Orme-Johnson DW. Intelligence 2001 29(5):419-440

Increased Physiological Relaxation Meta-analysis of 32 studies Effect Size Dillbeck, & Orme-Johnson, (1987) American Psychologist, 42, 89-91.

Nidich et al, (in press) American Journal of Hypertension Nidich et al, in prep

Increased Self-Actualization Meta-analysis of 42 studies Effect Size MTM – M ctl ——————— Pooled σ Alexander et al, (1991) Journal of Social Behavior and Perception, 6:189-247

Israel Study Orme-Johnson et al, Journal of Conflict Resolution, 32(4):776-812 1988

Meta-Analysis-Collective Consciousness Davies, J.L., et al. Journal of Social Behavior & Personality, 2005 17(1):285-338

Maharishi has brought Vedic knowledge to the west and made it into a complete science of consciousness. His life purpose was to preserve and maintain the Vedic heritage by making it not only scientific but so easy and practical that we can use it in all field of life including education and allow every student to realise their full potential.