title: Higher theta and alpha1 coherence when listening to Vedic recitation compared to coherence during Transcendental Meditation practice.
abstract: This study compared subjective experiences and EEG patterns in 37 subjects when listening to live Vedic recitation and when practicing Transcendental Meditation (TM). Content analysis of experiences when listening to Vedic recitation yielded three higher-order code. Experiences during Vedic recitation were: (1) deeper than during TM practice; (2) experienced as an inner process; and (3) characterized by lively silence. EEG patterns support these higher-order codes. Theta2 and alpha1 frontal, parietal, and frontal-parietal coherence were significantly higher when listening to Vedic recitation, than during TM practice. Theta2 coherence is seen when attending to internal mental processes. Higher theta2 coherence supports subjects' descriptions that the Vedic recitations were "not external sounds but internal vibrations." Alpha1 coherence is reported during pure consciousness experiences during TM practice. Higher alpha1 coherence supports subjects' descriptions that they "experienced a depth of experience, rarely experienced even during deep TM practice." These data support the utility of listening to Vedic recitation to culture deep inner experiences.
authors.affiliation: Center for Brain, Consciousness and Cognition, Maharishi University of Management, 1000 North 4th Street, Fairfield, IA 52557, United States. Electronic address: ftravis@mum.edu.
authors.forename: Frederick
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Travis
authors.affiliation: Center for Brain, Consciousness and Cognition, Maharishi University of Management, 1000 North 4th Street, Fairfield, IA 52557, United States.
authors.forename: Niyazi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Parim
authors.affiliation: Center for Brain, Consciousness and Cognition, Maharishi University of Management, 1000 North 4th Street, Fairfield, IA 52557, United States.
authors.forename: Amrita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shrivastava
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000513:Alpha Rhythm / Q000502:physiology*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D003344:Cortical Synchronization / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D018596:Hinduism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019122:Meditation; D008875:Middle Aged; D013067:Speech Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D013826:Theta Rhythm / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Alpha; Frontal EEG coherence; Meditation; TM; Theta; Transcendental Meditation; Vedic recitation