Brain integration scale measures development of consciousness resulting from Transcendental Meditation
by Global Good News staff writer

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28 October 2013

In the recently published Volume 7 of Scientific Research on Maharishi's Transcendental Meditation and TM-Sidhi Program: Collected Papers, a few studies look at brain development and measurable signs of higher states of consciousness predicted to develop with continued practice.

While the first study looked at the effects of long-term meditation on sleep, the second study looked at the effects during daily activity, Volume 7 editor Dr Michael Dillbeck said.

See related article: Meditators' brains function differently during sleep, Transcendental Meditation study finds

The first study found increased alpha brain activity in long-term practitioners of Transcendental Meditation during sleep. Using the same general methodology as in that study, Dr Fred Travis, Director of the Center for Brain, Consciousness, and Cognition at Maharishi University of Management, looked at three different groups. He studied nonmeditators, new meditators, and meditators who reported experiencing their silent inner Self during activity.*

The study, published in 2002 in the journal Biological Psychology, looked at what aspects of brain functioning, if any, changed due to long-term practice of Transcendental Meditation.

Dr Travis 'looked at a number of different EEG patterns under different parameters; he took those that best discriminated between the three groups and used that to create what he called a brain integration scale,' Dr Dillbeck explained.

In other words, Dr Travis saw clear patterns of brain activity that differed amongst the three groups and, using that data, was able to map a consistent pattern of change spurred by continued practice of Transcendental Meditation.

'His brain integration scale,' continued Dr Dillbeck, 'has had very interesting results, even showing among those who just learned Transcendental Meditation [that] their brain integration scores increase.'

Volume 7 includes other studies about brain development, but also covers a wide range of subjects. The book is almost 1,000 pages long and contains 81 studies from 115 authors and 50 different universities.

Further articles in this series will explore more of Dr Dillbeck's discussion of findings on higher states of consciousness and the brain integration scale, by Dr Fred Travis.

* During the practice of Transcendental Meditation, the mind effortlessly experiences quieter and quieter levels of thought. From time to time, the mind transcends (goes beyond) the activity of thought and settles down to a state of inner silence, known as the inner Self or pure consciousness. With regular meditation practice the silence and peace of this inner experience are described as naturally becoming integrated into daily living.

Copyright © 2013 Global Good News Service



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