Metabolic and EEG changes during transcendental meditation: An explanation

Fenwick, Peter; Donaldson, Stuart; Gillis, Lynn; Bushman, J.A.; Fenton, George W.; Perry, I. R.; Tilsley, C.; Serafinowicz, H.

doi:10.1016/0301-0511(77)90007-2

Cited by 61 publications

(29 citation statements)

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“…Banquet found that the beta rhythm stayed at an almost constant frequency during the transcendence stage. Fenwick has replicated his and other researchers' findings of increased alpha amplitude, decreased alpha frequency and the occurrence of theta activity (Fenwick et al 1977). A summary of these findings reveals the following generally agreed EEG changes during meditation:…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 61%

“…Examination of their data (Table 1) reveals significant differences between meditation and napping, however, and these results tend to confirm the findings of Fenwick (1960) which suggested that the drowsiness state can be differentiated from the meditation state on the basis of EEG patterning. Fenwick et al (1977) report that myoclonic jerks observed during meditation are different from those seen in normal drowsing, the former being repetitive, large, well-organized bodily movements, usually confined to a limb or the trunk, whereas in drowsing the jerks are usually single, stereotyped and simple. A further difference between meditation and the control conditions in Fenwick's second study (Fenwick et al 1977) is that 4 subjects displayed a significant increase in abnormal paroxysmal theta bursts during meditation.…”

Section: -5mentioning

confidence: 96%

“…Fenwick et al (1977) report that myoclonic jerks observed during meditation are different from those seen in normal drowsing, the former being repetitive, large, well-organized bodily movements, usually confined to a limb or the trunk, whereas in drowsing the jerks are usually single, stereotyped and simple. A further difference between meditation and the control conditions in Fenwick's second study (Fenwick et al 1977) is that 4 subjects displayed a significant increase in abnormal paroxysmal theta bursts during meditation. Similarly, Hebert & Lehmann (1977) found that 21 out of 78 advanced practitioners of meditation demonstrated intermittent prominent bursts of frontally dominant theta activity.…”

Section: -5mentioning

confidence: 96%

“…The raters identified one of these differences as the relative stability of the alpha rhythm during meditation. In a subsequent experiment (Fenwick et al 1977), a consultant clinical neurophysiologist, when asked to allocate the EEG records of 24 subjects, correctly identified 13 meditation records and incorrectly identified 11 control records as meditation. This result would have been expected by chance.…”

Section: Meditation and Other Altered Statesmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…Several authors have suggested on the basis of studies of the EEG that meditation is simply light sleep by another name. Fenwick et al (1977) point out that 'several subjects whose EEG records showed them to be drowsy or frankly asleep during the control periods did not recognise this experience but insisted they had been wide awake' and that 'it is predictable from the level of alertness seen in meditation that the subject's self-report systems will not be functioning effectively'. The implication of these statements is that the EEG is a more reliable indicator of states of consciousness than is self-report but, as Fenwick goes on to point out, this may not necessarily hold-' Because the EEG phenomena are suggestive of a hypnagogic state it is not possible to be sure that the mental state of stage onset sleep is present.'…”

Section: -5mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Meditation and the EEG

West

1980

Psychol. Med.

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SYNOPSIS Previous research on meditation and the EEG is described, and findings relating to EEG patterns during meditation are discussed. Comparisons of meditation with other altered states are reviewed and it is concluded that, on the basis of existing EEG evidence, there is some reason for differentiating between meditation and drowsing. Research on alpha-blocking and habituation of the blocking response during meditation is reviewed, and the effects of meditation on EEG patterns outside of meditation are described. In conclusion, the need for more precisely formulated research is pointed out.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 61%

Section: -5mentioning

confidence: 96%

Section: -5mentioning

confidence: 96%

Section: Meditation and Other Altered Statesmentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: -5mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Meditation and the EEG

West

1980

Psychol. Med.

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Transcendental meditation and progressive relaxation: Their physiological effects

Throll

1982

J. Clin. Psychol.

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Measured oxygen consumption, tidal volume, respiration rate, heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure before the Ss (N = 39) learned Transcendental Meditation (TM: N = 21) or Jacobson's Progressive Relaxation (PR: N = 18). Ss were tested immediately after learning either technique and again 5, 10, and 15 weeks later. While there were no significant differences between groups for any of the physiological variables at pretest, the TM group displayed more significant decreases during meditation and during activity than did the PR group. Both groups displayed significantly lowered metabolic rates during TM or PR. The generally more significant and comprehensive results for mediatators were explained primarily in terms of the greater amount of time the TM group spent on their technique, plus the differences in the two techniques themselves. Several avenues for future research are discussed.

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Consciousness and Self-Regulation

Peters¹

1983

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All rights reservedNo part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic. mechanical, photocopying, microfilming, recording, or otherwise, without written permission from the Publisher ISBN 978-1-4615-9319-5 ISBN 978-1-4615-9317-1 (eBook) v Preface to Volume 3Six years have passed since the appearance of the first volume of COI1sciousness and Self-Regulation: Advances in Research. Since that time, both the field and the editors of this series have undergone some change.This new preface is intended to provide an update of these recent developments.Around the time Volume 1 appeared, the scientific study of consciousness was very much in its infancy. While isolated research efforts were directly concerned with the study of conscious and/or volitional processes, little systematic theory or integration was evident. Moreover, research in these areas was, at that time, still not quite considered as lying within the "proper" domain of psychological investigation. Over the past several years, we have witnessed a growing recognition of the importance of the study of consciousness within the behavioral-scientific community. Consciousness is now viewed by many prominent cognitive theorists as a central issue in cognitive psychology. Similarly, an increasing emphasis on conscious processes can be detected within contemporary psychobiological research.The increasing attention directed toward the study of consciousness and volition has helped to uncover some of the deeper and less obvious assumptions investigators have been making about the precise nature of mind-brain relations. One of the more important recent developments is the contribution which contemporary philosophy has made to this dialogue. A number of philosophers have been quite helpful in exposing the problems and prospects of the various positions regarding mind-brain identity. We intend to represent this interdisciplinary effort in this and in future volumes of the series.The central focus and orientation of the series remains as it was conceived. Our bias remains with psychobiological approaches to the problems of consciousness and self-regulation. However, our viewpoint is broad and we will continue to include new developments in cognitive science, linguistics, and philosophy as they bear upon the major issues to which this series is addressed. We also expect to maintain a balance, vii viii PREFACE TO VOLUME 3 reflected in the previous two volumes, between basic and applied research. The case remains that both basic and clinical research programs continue to contribute to our understanding of consciousness and volition.As the original preface indicates, the impetus and organization of the series emerged from a number of seminars at Harvard University on the psychophysiology of consciousness, emotion, and self-regulation. In the late 1960s, Gary E. Schwartz was a graduate student at Harvard working under the direction of David Shapiro. Schwartz joined the faculty at Harvard in 1971Harvard in ...

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Metabolic and EEG changes during transcendental meditation: An explanation

Cited by 61 publications

References 11 publications

Meditation and the EEG

Meditation and the EEG

Transcendental meditation and progressive relaxation: Their physiological effects

Consciousness and Self-Regulation

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