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

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

Thank you. Any Questions? Ftravis@mum.edu

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. 

Brain waves are coherent during TM. Front Middle High EEG coherence is seen during restful alertness. Here we see the electrical activity from 32 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. Back 8 sec

Four Months TM Practice Eyes Open Travis, 1991

Eight Years TM Practice Eyes Open Travis, 1991