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Eye movements during transcendental meditation
Folia Psychiatrica Et Neurologica Japonica
|January 1, 1976
Summary
Transcendental Meditation (TM) can alter eye movements during meditation, often increasing slow, rolling movements and decreasing jerky ones. However, these physiological effects show significant individual variability and are less consistent than previously suggested.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychophysiology
- Consciousness Studies
Background:
- Meditation practices, including Transcendental Meditation (TM), are known to induce physiological changes.
- Previous research suggested consistent effects of TM on psychophysiological measures.
- Eye movements during altered states of consciousness are of interest for understanding brain activity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate characteristic changes in eye movements during Transcendental Meditation (TM) with closed eyes.
- To assess the consistency and variability of these eye movement changes across individuals and sessions.
- To compare TM-induced eye movement patterns with those observed during passive hypnosis.
Main Methods:
- Recorded eye movements in experienced TM practitioners during meditation and non-meditation states.
- Analyzed changes in the amplitude and frequency of eye movements.
- Compared findings with eye movement data from subjects in a passive hypnotic state.
Main Results:
- A subset of TM practitioners exhibited increased slow, large-amplitude, 'rolling' eye movements.
- A concomitant decrease in rapid, low-amplitude, 'jerky' eye movements was observed in some subjects.
- Significant inter-individual variation was noted; some subjects showed no changes, and changes were not always consistent within or between sessions.
Conclusions:
- Physiological effects of TM, specifically eye movement patterns, are more variable than previously reported.
- Observed eye movement changes during TM share similarities with those during passive hypnosis.
- Individual differences play a crucial role in the psychophysiological responses to meditation.