title: Autonomic and EEG patterns distinguish transcending from other experiences during Transcendental Meditation practice.
abstract: This study compared EEG and autonomic patterns during transcending to "other" experiences during Transcendental Meditation (TM) practice. To correlate specific meditation experiences with physiological measures, the experimenter rang a bell three times during the TM session. Subjects categorized their experiences around each bell ring. Transcending, in comparison to "other" experiences during TM practice, was marked by: (1) significantly lower breath rates; (2) higher respiratory sinus arrhythmia amplitudes; (3) higher EEG alpha amplitude; and (4) higher alpha coherence. In addition, skin conductance responses to the experimenter-initiated bell rings were larger during transcending. These findings suggest that monitoring patterns of physiological variables may index dynamically changing inner experiences during meditation practice. This could allow a more precise investigation into the nature of meditation experiences and a more accurate comparison of meditation states with other eyes-closed conditions.
authors.affiliation: Psychology Department, Maharishi University of Management, Fairfield, IA 52557, USA.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Travis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001146:Arrhythmia, Sinus / Q000503:physiopathology; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D005712:Galvanic Skin Response / Q000502:physiology; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019122:Meditation / Q000523:psychology*; D015656:Respiratory Mechanics / Q000502:physiology; D012727:Sex Characteristics