LABORATORY NOTE

The Center for Brain, Consciousness, and Cognitionat Maharishi University of Management

Fred Travis

Received: 25 October 2009 / Accepted: 30 October 2009 / Published online: 14 November 2009

� Marta Olivetti Belardinelli and Springer-Verlag 2009

Abstract The work at the Center for Brain, Conscious-

ness and Cognition is summarized.

Keywords Transcendental Meditation � TM �Coherence � Enlightenment

The Center for Brain, Consciousness, and Cognition was

created in 1972 when Maharishi University of Management

was founded. The purpose of the Brain Center was to

delineate brain and physiological functioning during higher

stages of human development. We have focused our

research on practice of the Transcendental Meditation

(TM) technique, because this meditation practice readily

leads to the state of Transcendental Consciousness, pure

self-awareness or inner wakefulness. With regular TM

practice, meditation experiences become integrated with

waking, sleeping, and dreaming. The co-existence of these

states is described in the Vedic tradition as the first stabi-

lized state of enlightenment, called Cosmic Consciousness.

Our research has delineated the following:

1. sub-stages during Transcendental Meditation practice

(Travis 2001);

2. brain patterns and subjective experiences of Transcen-

dental Consciousness, defined as ‘‘pure self-aware-

ness’’ free from the processes and contents of knowing,

a proposed fourth state of consciousness (Farrow and

Hebert 1982; Travis and Wallace 1997; Travis and

Pearson 2000);

3. distinction between TM and eyes closed rest (Travis

and Wallace 1999);

4. brain patterns and subjective experiences of the first

stabilized state of enlightenment called Cosmic Con-

sciousness during sleep (Mason et al. 1997) and during

activity (Travis et al. 2002; Travis et al. 2004).

This research has culminated in a Brain Integration

Scale that quantifies the progressive integration of experi-

ences during Transcendental Meditation practice with

waking—becoming more in touch with ones inner resour-

ces. Scores on the Brain Integration Scale systematically

increase with TM practice in college students (Travis and

Arenander 2006; Travis et al. 2009). Brain Integration

Scale scores are also higher in professional athletes who

won medals in the Olympics, world games or national

games for three consecutive years compared to profes-

sional athletes who did not consistently place (Harung,

Travis et al. 2009). Thus, higher scores on the Brain Inte-

gration Scale may reflect greater connection with ones

inner resources and so be more successful in life.

References

Farrow JT, Hebert JR (1982) Breath suspension during the transcen-

dental meditation technique. Psychosom Med 44(2):133–153

Harung HF, Travis et al (2009) ‘‘High levels of brain integration in

world-class norwegian athletes: towards a brain measure of

mental fitness.’’ Scand J Exerc Sport (in press)

Mason LI, Alexander CN et al (1997) Electrophysiological correlates

of higher states of consciousness during sleep in long-term

practitioners of the Transcendental Meditation program. Sleep

20(2):102–110

Travis F (2001) Autonomic and EEG patterns distinguish transcend-

ing from other experiences during Transcendental Meditation

practice. Int J Psychophysiol 42(1):1–9

F. Travis (&)

Center for Brain, Consciousness, and Cognition,

Maharishi University of Management, Fairfield,

IA 52557, USA

e-mail: ftravis@mum.edu

123

Cogn Process (2010) 11:85–86

DOI 10.1007/s10339-009-0349-9

Travis F, Arenander A (2006) Cross-sectional and longitudinal study

of effects of Transcendental Meditation practice on interhemi-

spheric frontal asymmetry and frontal coherence. Int J Neurosci

116(12):1519–1538

Travis F, Pearson C (2000) Pure consciousness: distinct phenomeno-

logical and physiological correlates of ‘‘consciousness itself’’.

Int J Neurosci 100:77–89

Travis F, Wallace RK (1997) Autonomic patterns during respiratory

suspensions: possible markers of Transcendental Consciousness.

Psychophysiology 34(1):39–46

Travis F, Wallace RK (1999) Autonomic and EEG patterns during

eyes-closed rest and transcendental meditation (TM) practice:

the basis for a neural model of TM practice. Conscious Cogn

8(3):302–318

Travis FT, Tecce J et al (2002) Patterns of EEG Coherence, Power,

and Contingent Negative Variation Characterize the Integration

of Transcendental and Waking States. Biol Psychol 61:293–319

Travis F, Arenander A et al (2004) Psychological and physiological

characteristics of a proposed object-referral/self-referral contin-

uum of self-awareness. Conscious Cogn 13(2):401–420

Travis F, Haaga DA et al (2009) Effects of Transcendental Meditation

practice on brain functioning and stress reactivity in college

students. Int J Psychophysiol 71(2):170–176

86 Cogn Process (2010) 11:85–86

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