Enhanced brain function
The brain is like a muscle. When we train it, it becomes stronger, if we neglect it, it will shrink. We only use a small part of our brain’s potential. Education has not provided us with a means to develop our full brain potential. The means is transcending.
How stress damages the brain
Stress, pressure, fatigue, poor diet, alcohol, and drugs damage neural connections between the brain's prefrontal cortex - or CEO - and the rest of the brain. When you are overtired or under intense mental or physical stress, the brain bypasses its higher, more evolved, rational frontal executive circuits. Consequently, you respond to daily demands without thinking; you make impulsive, shortsighted decisions. When the CEO goes "offline," strong emotions, such as fear and anger, take over, adversely coloring your view of the world.
Stressful brain
Offline prefrontal cortex
Meditating Brain
Online prefrontal cortex
How TM optimises the brain The stress-reducing
Non-religious TM technique provides the experience of restful alertness, which reduces stress, strengthens communication between the brain's prefrontal cortex and different areas of the brain, and develops total brain functioning. As a result, the Transcendental Meditation practitioner displays stronger executive functions, with more purposeful thinking and farsighted decision-making. When the CEO is fully online, the emotional response to the world is more balanced and appropriate.
- Impulsive
- Reactive behavior
- Shortsighted decision-making
- Poor working memory
- Distracted attention
- Drug and alcohol abuse
- Unethical thinking and behavior
Weak executive
functioning
Rigid thinking
Strong
executive
functioning
- Purposeful, flexible thinking
- Nonimpulsive, proactive behavior
- Farsighted decision-making
- Excellent working memory
- Settled, focused attention
- No substance abuse or addictions
- Ethical thinking and behavior
The brain is compared before and after meditation.
Increase your happiness hormones
Millions of people have experienced the transformative effect of TM on their lives. When you sleep better, think more clearly and have more energy it’s only natural to find yourself in a happy state of mind
Reference: Journal of Neural Transmission Vol 39, 1976, pp257-267