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Cited by 131Mindfulness and Compassion InterventionsParanormal Experiences and BeliefsSleep and Wakefulness Research

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 26 of the 26 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

Electrophysiological Correlates of Higher States of Consciousness During Sleep in Long-Term

Mason, L. I., Alexander, C. N., Travis, F. T., Marsh, G., Orme-Johnson, D. W., Gackenbach, J., Mason, D. C., Rainforth, M., Walton, K. G.·1997·Sleep
DOI 10.1093/sleep/20.2.102
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Abstract

Standard ambulatory night sleep electroencephalograph (EEG) of 11 long-term practitioners of the Transcendental Meditation (TM) program reporting "higher states of consciousness" during sleep (the experimental group) was compared to that of nine short-term practitioners and 11 non-practitioners. EEG tracings during stages 3 and 4 sleep showed the experimental group to have: 1) theta-alpha activity simultaneously with delta activity and 2) decreased chin electromyograph (EMG) during deep sleep (p = 0.002) compared to short-term practitioners. Spectral analysis fast Fourier transform (FFT) data of the first three cycles showed that: 3) the experimental subjects had significantly greater theta 2 (6-8 Hz)-alpha 1 (8-10 Hz) relative power during stages 3 and 4 than the combined control groups [t(30) = 5.5, p = 0.0000008] with no difference in time in delta; 4) there was a graded difference across groups during stages 3 and 4 in theta 2-alpha 1 power, with experimentals having greater power than short-term practitioners, who in turn had greater power than non-practitioners [t(30) = 5.08, p = 0.00002]; and 5) experimentals also had increased rapid eye movement (REM) density during REM periods compared to short-term practitioners (p = 0.04). Previous studies have found increased theta-alpha EEG activity during reported periods of "transcendental consciousness" during the TM technique. In the Vedic tradition, as described by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, transcendental consciousness is the first of a sequence of higher states. The maintenance of transcendental consciousness along with deep sleep is said to be a distinctive criterion of further, stabilized higher states of consciousness. The findings of this study are interpreted as physiological support for this model.

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Metadata

Authors
Mason, L. I., Alexander, C. N., Travis, F. T., Marsh, G., Orme-Johnson, D. W., Gackenbach, J., Mason, D. C., Rainforth, M., & Walton, K. G.
Affiliations
  • Maharishi University of Management, Fairfield, Iowa, U.S.A.
  • Duke University (US)
  • University of Alberta (CA)
  • University of Iowa (US)
Corresponding author
Mason, D. C.
ORCID
Venue
Sleep
Publisher
Oxford University Press (OUP)
Published
1997-02-01
Volume
20
Issue
2
Pages
102-110
ISSN
  • 0161-8105 (ISSN-L)
  • 1550-9109
DOI
10.1093/sleep/20.2.102
OpenAlex
W2336592706
Cited by
131
References
26
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 11 · 2012: 9
FWCI
5.80
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • SLEEP (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Paranormal Experiences and Beliefs
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Sleep and Wakefulness Research
Keywords
transcendental meditation, higher states of consciousness, slow-wave sleep, REM sleep density, delta oscillations, sleep EEG, Vedic tradition, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi
MeSH terms
Adult, Arousal, Consciousness, Electroencephalography, Electromyography, Female, Humans, Male, Sleep, REM, Meditation

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