Scientific research has shown increased activation of the frontal lobes of the brain during Transcendental Meditation, and with regular practice of TM these brain patterns begin to be seen during activity also, resulting in more creativity and success due to better brain performance.

Increasing the connection between different parts of the brain through Transcendental Meditation
by Global Good News staff writer
25 March 2010

In an interview at Maharishi University of Managment (MUM), Dr Fred Travis, Director of the Center for Brain, Consciousness, and Cognition at MUM, explained that to increase the power output of any system, it is necessary to increase the connection between the elements of the system. In terms of the brain, this applies to the frontal lobes.  

‘The frontal lobes actually connect all other parts of the brain,’ Dr Travis said. ‘When the frontal lobes are more connected, the brain works as one. That means the brain can be more creative; it can be more successful; performance can be higher. When you solve a problem by a creative insight, you find that the frontal lobes are more active.’ 

Dr Travis explained that when you have to make a decision with incomplete information, the frontal areas of the brain are more activated. ‘The good news is you can actually increase the integration of the frontal areas of your brain,’ Dr Travis continued. ‘Practice of Transcendental Meditation does this.’ 

During the Transcendental Meditation Technique increased activation of the frontal areas of the brain takes place even while the mind is completely quiet. With regular practice this deep silence and heightened awareness experienced during Transcendental Meditation is seen afterwards in activity. 

‘Your brain changes throughout your life,’ Dr Travis said. ‘Your brain is not a rock. It's a river. Every time you see or hear something, it creates a wave of electrical activity that goes to the left, to the right, to the back, to the front [of the brain] and it leaves its impressions in the brain in terms of greater connections between specific circuits. That means every time you do something today you're strengthening circuits so that you can do it better tomorrow. The reality of life is that we create our own destiny in a very physical way.’  

Dr Travis pointed out that Transcendental Meditation leads to a new experience: the experience in which you are alert—attention circuits are more active, he said, and the frontal areas are more integrated. At the same time you are more quiet. This experience is called ‘restful alertness’. 

‘This state of restful alertness has its own associated brain circuits with it,’ Dr Travis said, ‘and what you see is, the brain patterns during Transcendental Meditation begin to be seen during activity.’  

© Copyright 2010 Global Good News®