Field model of consciousness: EEG coherence changes as indicators of field effects.
Changes in EEG coherence patterns were used to test a field model that posits a common field of "pure consciousness" linking all individuals. In ten trials, EEG was concurrently measured from pairs of subjects, one practicing Transcendental Meditation (TM) and the TM-Sidhi technique of "Yogic Flying" (YFg)--said to enliven the proposed field of consciousness--and the other performing a computer task. Box-Jenkins ARIMA transfer function analysis indicated that coherence changes in the YF's 5.7-8.5 Hz band, the band sensitive to TM and YFg, consistently led coherence changes in the other subject's 4.7-42.7 Hz band. A clear relationship was seen among subjective reports, coherence patterns, and strength of intervention effects. These data support a field model of consciousness. Alternate explanations are explored.
Travis
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EEG Lab, Psychology Dept. MIU Fairfield, IA 52556.
Orme-Johnson
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D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D003243:Consciousness / Q000502:physiology*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012064:Relaxation Therapy