South Entrances/North-Facing Beds, and other research...
.
from: The Review, Vol. 20, #14, April 20, 2005
.
26 New Research Studies Published by Journal
The 26 studies published this month in a special journal issue include
seminal research on the effects of building orientation, hormonal changes of
nonmeditating Fairfield residents associated with changes in the size of the
group practice in the Domes, and advances in cognitive development in children
practicing the Transcendental Meditation� technique.
The special issue of the Journal of Social Behavior and Personality is
dedicated to the late Charles Alexander, and many of the studies included
were presented at a conference held in his honor. The studies cover the
application of Maharishi Vedic Science(SM) in fields such as psychology,
health and aging, management, public policy, and collective consciousness
and peace studies.
Effects on Nonmeditators
Among the most striking of the articles is the one reporting fluctuations in
hormone levels of nonmeditators in Fairfield corresponding to changes in the
size of the group practicing the Transcendental Meditation and TM-Sidhi�
programs in the Domes.
Researchers Ken Walton, Ken Cavanaugh, and Nirmal Pugh studied the levels of
cortisol (a hormone associated with stress) and serotonin (a hormone
associated with mental well-being) over a 90-day period in six subjects.
They found that increasing the number of Yogic Flyers in the Domes
correlated with a decrease in cortisol and an increase in serotonin. The
statistical method of time series analysis used by the researchers not only
showed a correlation but also suggested a causal effect.
"We have hypothesized that group practice of the TM-Sidhi program can affect
society, and this study helps to understand the effect," Dr. Walton said.
"Group practice actually reduces the effects of stress in those in the
vicinity in a manner similar to the reduction within the individual meditator
when he practices the Transcendental Meditation program."
South Entrances, North-Facing Beds
In one of two studies on the topic of Maharishi Sth�patya Veda(SM) design, a
team of researchers led by Fred Travis found that homes that have a south
entrance had 75 percent more burglaries than homes with other orientations.
A second study looked at whether the orientation of one's bed can affect
health and well-being. University researchers collaborated with a physician in
private practice in Ottumwa to give a questionnaire to 167 patients in order
to assess each person's relative health and quality of life to see how that
correlated with direction of sleep and with the direction of the home's
entrance.
The results showed that individuals sleeping with their heads pointing north
had significantly lower scores on the Mental Health Inventory compared to
patients who slept in other directions.
In addition, patients whose homes had south entrances had significantly
poorer overall scores on the standardized Mental Health Inventory than
patients with north, northeast, or east entrances. And they also reported
more financial problems.
Cognitive Development in Children
Three studies in the issue show that children between the ages of five and ten
who learn a special form of the Transcendental Meditation technique for
children speed up their passage through the classic stages of cognitive
development defined by Jean Piaget.
In addition, two of the studies show that children who meditate also
demonstrate greater analytic ability, conceptual maturity, and sustained
attention, as well as marked increases in general intelligence as measured by
standardized tests.
Personal Development in Alumni
A longitudinal study by Howard Chandler, Charles Alexander, and Dennis
Heaton showed that alumni of Maharishi University of Management continued
personal development for at least ten years after graduation while
comparison groups over the same period either went backwards or showed no
development.
The research used standard measures of personal development including
assessments of ego development and principled moral reasoning.
Increase in Longevity
And an eight-year follow-up study led by Vernon Barnes and Robert Schneider
found that older individuals with hypertension who practice the
Transcendental Meditation technique live longer.
The research showed that practitioners have a lower risk of death from
cardiovascular disease, cancer, and all other causes. Compared to two other
groups, participants in the Transcendental Meditation technique group were 81
percent less likely to have died from cardiovascular disease and 68 percent
less likely to have died from cancer.
Available from M.U.M. Press
This special issue of the Journal of Social Behavior and Personality is
available in the University Bookstore and via the Maharishi University of
Management Press. See http://ff.mum.edu/mumpress. Or call 472-1101 or toll
free at 1-800-831-6523.
***
REVIEW-L is an electronic newsletter sent out approximately every two weeks
during the academic year containing news stories relating to Maharishi
University of Management.
Those not already subscribed to The Review can receive it via e-mail by
sending an e-mail message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word
"subscribe" in the body of the message. (without the quotation marks).
�Transcendental Meditation, TM-Sidhi, Maharishi Vedic Science, Maharishi
Sth�patya Veda, Consciousness-Based, Maharishi Peace Palace, Maharishi Vedic
City, Maharishi School of the Age of Enlightenment, and Maharishi University
of Management are registered or common law trademarks licensed to Maharishi
Vedic Education Development Corporation and used under sublicense or with
permission.
Copyright 2005, Maharishi University of Management Headlines
http://www.mum.edu/TheReview
To subscribe, send a message to:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Or go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/
and click 'Join This Group!'
Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
