Sleep During Transcendental Meditation
Robert R. Pagano, Richard M. Rose, Robert M. Stivers, Stephen Warrenburg
Science January 23, 1976 DOI: 10.1126/science.1108200 via OpenAlex
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractDuring transcendental meditation, experienced practitioners spent considerable time in sleep stages 2, 3, and 4, with the amount of time in each stage varying across sessions and individuals. Comparing brainwave recordings made during meditation with those from naps taken at the same time of day showed that the range of states observed during meditation does not support the idea that meditation produces a single, unique state of consciousness.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Observational study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 5 |
| Population | Experienced practitioners of transcendental meditation |
| Intervention | Transcendental meditation |
| Citations | 73 |
| Key finding | The range of states observed during meditation does not support the view that meditation produces a single, unique state of consciousness. |
Abstract
Five experienced practitioners of transcendental meditation spent appreciable parts of meditation sesions in sleep stages 2, 3, and 4. Time spent in each sleep stage varied both between sessions for a given subject and between subjects. In addition, we compare electroencephalogram records made during meditation with those made during naps taken at the same time of day. The range of states observed during meditation does not support the view that meditation produces a single, unique state of consciousness.