Anatomic characterization of human ultra-weak photon emission in practitioners of transcendental meditation(TM) and control subjects.
BACKGROUND
Research on human ultra-weak photon emission (UPE, biophoton emission) has raised the question whether a typical human emission anatomic percentage distribution pattern exists in addition to individual subject overall anatomic summation intensity differences. The lowest UPE intensities were observed in two subjects who regularly meditate. Spectral analysis of human UPE has suggested that ultra-weak emission is probably, at least in part, a reflection of free radical reactions in a living system. It has been documented that various physiologic and biochemical shifts follow the long-term practice of meditation and it is inferred that meditation may impact free radical activity.


OBJECTIVE
To systematically quantify, in subjects with long-term transcendental meditation (TM) experience and subjects without this experience, the UPE emission of the anterior torso, head and neck plus the hands in an attempt to document the differences by the two groups.


METHODS
Subjects were 20 men reported to be healthy and nonsmokers. Each of the subjects in the meditation group had practiced TM twice daily for at least the past 10 years.


METHODS
UPE in 20 subjects was recorded in a dark room using a highly sensitive, cooled photomultiplier system designed for manipulation in three directions. The protocol for multisite registration of spontaneous emission includes recording of 12 anatomic locations of anterior torso, head, and hands.


RESULTS
Data demonstrate emission intensities that are lower in TM practitioners as compared to control subjects. The percent contribution of emission from most anatomic locations was not significantly different for TM practitioners and control subjects. Exceptions are the contributions of throat and palm.


CONCLUSIONS
In subjects with long-term TM experience, the UPE emission is different from control subjects. Data support the hypothesis that free radical reactions can be influenced by TM.
Van Wijk
Eduard P A
EP
International Institute of Biophysics, Neuss, Germany.
Koch
Heike
H
Bosman
Saskia
S
Van Wijk
Roeland
R
D000328:Adult; D055592:Biophysical Phenomena; D001703:Biophysics; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D005260:Female; D005546:Forehead / Q000502:physiology*; D006225:Hand / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008163:Luminescent Measurements; D008297:Male; D019122:Meditation / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017785:Photons