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Science 27 March 1970:
Vol. 167. no. 3926, pp. 1751 - 1754
DOI: 10.1126/science.167.3926.1751
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Articles

Physiological Effects of Transcendental Meditation

Robert Keith Wallace 1

1 Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Center for the Health Sciences, Los Angeles, California 90024

Oxygen consumption, heart rate, skin resistance, and electroenceph-alograph measurements were recorded before, during, and after subjects practiced a technique called transcendental meditation. There were significant changes between the control period and the meditation period in all measurements. During meditation, oxygen consumption and heart rate decreased, skin resistance increased, and the electroencephalogram showed specific changes in certain frequencies. These results seem to distinguish the state produced by transcendental meditation from commonly encountered states of consciousness and suggest that it may have practical applications.


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