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Brain Patterns and TM Brain Patterns and TM PracticePractice

Brain and Consciousness

Grey Matter

White Matter

Cortex (grey

matter) is 1/8 Inch

Thick

Parts of neuronsParts of neurons• Dendrites and Dendrites and

dendritic spinesdendritic spines– InputInput

• Cell bodyCell body– make energy, make energy,

neurotransmitters, neurotransmitters, integrate activity of cellsintegrate activity of cells

• axon axon – OutputOutput

Sodium and potassium

Chloride

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EEG: Ions in the Fluid Around the Neuron

Sodium and potassium

Chloride++

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Sources and Sinks along the Apical Dendrites

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Electrical Activity from Neurons “Talking” Can be Measured at the Scalp

SkullSkullSkullSkullSurface Surface of the of the brain brain (1/8” (1/8” thick)thick)

Surface Surface of the of the brain brain (1/8” (1/8” thick)thick)

EEGEEGEEGEEG

Brain waves measured by EEG mostly reflect Brain waves measured by EEG mostly reflect electrical activity in the cortex, but include electrical activity in the cortex, but include contributions from the whole brain.contributions from the whole brain.

Brain waves measured by EEG mostly reflect Brain waves measured by EEG mostly reflect electrical activity in the cortex, but include electrical activity in the cortex, but include contributions from the whole brain.contributions from the whole brain.

Frequency (cycles/sec or

Hz)

Cognitive Processes

1-3 Delta Restoration during deep sleep. Delta is also seen during waking when brain areas are strongly inhibited from firing.

4-5 Theta1 Drowsiness and dreaming

5-7.5 Theta2 Inner mental processes such as during a memory task

8-10 Alpha1 Inner wakefulness (Seen during TM)

10-12 Alpha2 Brain modules primed to be used in a task, but currently are quiet (Seen during eyes-closed rest)

16-20 Beta1 Ongoing processing of experience

20-50 Gamma Strong focus or concentration (Seen right now in your brain…)

Power SpectrumPower Spectrum

Power Maps: Frontal Theta

Task: 5 sec – 0 secTask: 5 sec – 0 secTask: 5 sec – 0 secTask: 5 sec – 0 sec

AlphaAlpha Beta Beta GammaGamma

TM: 30 sec – 35 secTM: 30 sec – 35 secTM: 30 sec – 35 secTM: 30 sec – 35 sec

AlphaAlpha Beta Beta GammaGamma

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Inward strokeInward stroke Outward StrokeOutward Stroke

Inward and Outward Strokes of TMInward and Outward Strokes of TM

Travis, 2001

Transcendental Consciousness Transcendental Consciousness Apneustic Breathing and Autonomic Apneustic Breathing and Autonomic

MeasuresMeasures

Travis, 2000

““Whatever the object is, if the subject keeps on changing, the Whatever the object is, if the subject keeps on changing, the knowledge will keep on changing. A fresh, alert man likes oranges, but if, when knowledge will keep on changing. A fresh, alert man likes oranges, but if, when he starts to feel sleepy and dull, some says, Here is some very sweet orange he starts to feel sleepy and dull, some says, Here is some very sweet orange juice. Would you like it? he may not even say no; he is now sinking another state juice. Would you like it? he may not even say no; he is now sinking another state of consciousness: drowsiness, sleep. The same orange juice, which was so of consciousness: drowsiness, sleep. The same orange juice, which was so sweet, so likeable, now has not much value and does not draw his attention at sweet, so likeable, now has not much value and does not draw his attention at all. So knowledge differs on the basis of the differing states of consciousness of all. So knowledge differs on the basis of the differing states of consciousness of the knower.the knower.”” Maharishi Maharishi

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TM Versus Eyes-Closed RestTM Versus Eyes-Closed Rest

-0.1

0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

Alpha1 Frontal

Coherence

Beta1 Frontal Coherence

Alpha1 Frontal Power

Beta1 Frontal Power

Gamma Frontal Power

TM Eyes Closed

Frontal Power

Differences

Frontal Coherence Differences

Travis et al, 2010

fMRI (Blood Flow) during TM

Red = Higher Blood Flow

Blue= Lower Blood Flow

Transcendental Consciousness, the Transcendental Consciousness, the fourth state of consciousness fourth state of consciousness experienced during Transcendental experienced during Transcendental Meditation practice between Meditation practice between thoughts, is also available between thoughts, is also available between states of consciousness.states of consciousness.

Transcendental Consciousness and Transcendental Consciousness and the Junction Point Model the Junction Point Model

Transcendental Consciousness and Transcendental Consciousness and the Junction Point Model the Junction Point Model

Junction Point Model

Travis, 1994

Junction Junction Point in Point in non-non-meditators meditators falling falling asleep and asleep and during TMduring TM

Transcendental Consciousness Transcendental Consciousness and the Junction Pointand the Junction Point

Transcendental Consciousness Transcendental Consciousness and the Junction Pointand the Junction Point

Travis, 1994

Junction points between sleeping and dreaming

Travis, 1994

Srīmad BhāgavatumSrīmad Bhāgavatum

• Discourse XIII, 4Discourse XIII, 4– ““With eyes turned towards the Self, With eyes turned towards the Self,

he should discover the true nature of he should discover the true nature of the Self at the point of contact the Self at the point of contact between deep sleep and waking life between deep sleep and waking life and look upon both bondage and and look upon both bondage and release as illusion and not real.”release as illusion and not real.”

Main PointMain PointThe continuous firing of 100 billion The continuous firing of 100 billion

neurons, each responding to different neurons, each responding to different aspects of experience, create the aspects of experience, create the electrical field around the brain that are electrical field around the brain that are sampled by EEG recording. sampled by EEG recording. Changes Changes in the whole electrical field in the whole electrical field characterize conscious experience and characterize conscious experience and states of consciousness from sleeping states of consciousness from sleeping to pure consciousness. to pure consciousness.

Small Group ExerciseSmall Group Exercise

• Why might changes in brain Why might changes in brain functioning be seen primarily in functioning be seen primarily in the frontal areas of the brain the frontal areas of the brain during TM practice?during TM practice?

• A considerable body of previous research on the prefrontal cortex (PFC) has A considerable body of previous research on the prefrontal cortex (PFC) has helped characterize the regional specificity of various cognitive functions, such helped characterize the regional specificity of various cognitive functions, such as cognitive control and decision making. Here we provide definitive findings as cognitive control and decision making. Here we provide definitive findings on this topic, using a neuropsychological approach that takes advantage of a on this topic, using a neuropsychological approach that takes advantage of a unique dataset accrued over several decades. We applied voxel-based lesion-unique dataset accrued over several decades. We applied voxel-based lesion-symptom mapping in 344 individuals with focal lesions (165 involving the PFC) symptom mapping in 344 individuals with focal lesions (165 involving the PFC) who had been tested on a comprehensive battery of neuropsychological tasks. who had been tested on a comprehensive battery of neuropsychological tasks. Two distinct functional-anatomical networks were revealed within the PFC: one Two distinct functional-anatomical networks were revealed within the PFC: one associated with cognitive control (response inhibition, conflict monitoring, and associated with cognitive control (response inhibition, conflict monitoring, and switching), which included the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and anterior switching), which included the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and anterior cingulate cortex and a second associated with value-based decision-making, cingulate cortex and a second associated with value-based decision-making, which included the orbitofrontal, ventromedial, and frontopolar cortex. which included the orbitofrontal, ventromedial, and frontopolar cortex. Furthermore, cognitive control tasks shared a common performance factor Furthermore, cognitive control tasks shared a common performance factor related to set shifting that was linked to the rostral anterior cingulate cortex. By related to set shifting that was linked to the rostral anterior cingulate cortex. By contrast, regions in the ventral PFC were required for decision-making. These contrast, regions in the ventral PFC were required for decision-making. These findings provide detailed causal evidence for a remarkable functional-findings provide detailed causal evidence for a remarkable functional-anatomical specificity in the human PFC.anatomical specificity in the human PFC.

Prism analogyPrism analogy

Decomposing a complex signal into component waves. Decomposing a complex signal into component waves.

Raw

Delta 0-4 Hz

Theta 4-8 Hz

Alpha 8-12 Hz

Beta 12-20 Hz

Gamma 20-50 Hz

FFT

FFT

FFT

FFT

FFT

Power = Amplitude squared Power = Amplitude squared

amplitude

amplitude

Alpha

Beta

DefaultDefault Network: Network: Frontal-Midline circuitsFrontal-Midline circuits (eLORETA-exact Low Resolution Electrotomography)(eLORETA-exact Low Resolution Electrotomography)

Travis et al, 2010

Concrete Concrete Experience Experience Concrete Concrete Experience Experience

EmotionsEmotionsEmotionsEmotions

ThinkingThinkingThinkingThinking

CEOCEO

Make into transnecnding…Make into transnecnding…

Motor

ActionAction

Anterior-Posterior

Alpha Synchrony

Hebert et al, 2005. Journal of Signal Processing.