Increased Coherence for
More Effective Brain Functioning

Research also shows that during the experience of Transcendental Consciousness there is increased coherence or orderliness of brain functioning measured at all areas of the brain and at all EEG frequencies of brain activity (9). (Refer to chart below.) EEG coherence is maximum during the practice of Yogic Flying, at the moment the body lifts off of the ground (10, 11).

Increased EEG Coherence During Transcendental Meditation This study found that during periods identified as periods of Transcendental Consciousness, individuals displayed higher mean EEG coherence over all frequencies and brain areas, in contrast to control periods. Reference: (9).

Coherence, or integration, of brain functioning has been found to be an important aspect of brain development and cognitive performance. For example, high levels of EEG coherence during the practice of the Maharishi Technology of the Unified Field are correlated with a wide range of mental abilities, including creativity, efficiency of learning, verbal intelligence, principled moral reasoning, better mental health, higher academic performance, and greater neurological efficiency (12-15).

General mental ability, particularly intelligence, was previously found to stop developing after age 17 (16, 17), indicating that education only partially develops the brain's functioning. In contrast, research on the Transcendental Meditation and TM-Sidhi Programme has repeatedly shown that intelligence continues to develop in young adults and adults who practise the programme (18, 19)—further evidence of increased use of the total capacity of the brain.

In summary, this shows that the Maharishi Technology of the Unified Field is capable of producing coherent integrated brain functioning. Such a holistic style of brain functioning can be called a peaceful state because different parts of the brain perform in harmony with each other. It is most remarkable that this unique, holistic dynamics at the individual level gives rise to corresponding behaviour at the collective level of society. The next sections will demonstrate that a group of individuals with coherent brain functioning can generate coherence, or harmony, in the whole society.