The most interesting studies on TM started to appear in 1980 with the first Pure Consciousness study. The latest study cited in that passage was 1980. A clear pattern that I have pointed out to you before which you continue to deny exists.
L --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Vaj <vajradhatu@...> wrote: > > > On Apr 19, 2012, at 10:25 AM, Wilfried Richter wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > wilfried richter Kolheimer Str. 14 27442 Gnarrenburg > > Tel.: 04763 1072 Fax: 04763 1074 > > > Other relaxation techniques have led > to the same EEG profile [as TM], and studies that > employed counter-balanced control relaxation > conditions consistently found a lack > of alpha power increases or even decreases > when comparing relaxation or hypnosis to > TM meditation (Morse et al., 1977; Tebecis, > 1975; Warrenburg, Pagano, Woods, & > Hlastala, 1980). Similarly, the initial claim > that TM produces a unique state of consciousness > different from sleep has been > refuted by several EEG meditation studies > that reported sleep-like stages during this > technique with increased alpha and then > theta power (Pagano, Rose, Stivers, & Warrenburg, > 1976; Younger, Adriance, & Berger, > 1975). > > To summarize, alpha global increases and > alpha coherence mostly over frontal electrodes > are associated with TM practice when > meditating compared to baseline (Morse, > Martin, Furst, & Dubin, 1977). This global > alpha increase is similar to that produced > by other relaxation techniques. The passive > absorption during the recitation of the > mantra, as practiced in this technique, produces > a brain pattern that suggests a decrease > of processing of sensory or motor information > and of mental activity in general. Because > alpha rhythms are ubiquitous and functionally > non-specific, the claim that alpha > oscillations and alpha coherence are desirable > or are linked to an original and higher > state of consciousness seem quite premature. > > - The Cambridge Handbook of Consciousness >
