Transcendental Meditation as a Modulator of Cognitive and Psychological Well-Being.

Background

Meditation is the practice of focusing the mind on a particular object, thought, or activity to reach a calm, stable state. Meditation is been practised since ancient past in various forms. Transcendental meditation (TM) is widely practiced for its potential benefits on mental and physical well-being using the mantra "OM" as an object of awareness. Despite its popularity in the Global North, evidence of its impact on cognitive and psychological health remains limited in the Indian context. Aim: To evaluate the effects of TM practice on cognitive performance by audiovisual reaction time and psychological parameters.

Methods

This single-group quasi-experimental study was conducted after Institutional Ethics Committee approval. Thirty-four volunteers (13 males and 21 females aged 25-50 years) underwent a 12-week TM intervention from a certified instructor. Audiovisual reaction time was measured using a Psychotronics digital reaction time apparatus and ADI Power Lab 8. The Profile of Mood States (POMS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Standardized Assessment of Personality Abbreviated Scale (SAPAS) were used for psychological assessment. Resilience was measured using the Nicholson McBride Resilience Questionnaire (NMRQ). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 29.

Results

Audiovisual reaction time was significantly reduced as a result of TM for cognitive tasks suggesting enhanced cognitive processing speed. Highly significant improvements were also observed in mood scores, sleep quality, resilience levels after the TM intervention (p<0.0001). Personality traits showed an increase in positive scores toward emotional stability.

Conclusion

Transcendental meditation improves cognitive performance and psychological well-being, supporting its potential as a complementary approach for mental health promotion and stress reduction. It can also be utilized for enhancing focus and attention, in activities demanding rapid and accurate responses, such as sports.