Scientific Research on the
Transcendental Meditation program

$20 million in federal (U.S.) funds to study benefits to health
Hundreds of scientific studies have been conducted on the benefits of the Transcendental Meditation program at more than 200 independent universities and research institutions worldwide. For example, in the United States, the National Institutes of Health has awarded over $20 million to research the preventative health benefits of the TM program. Findings have been published in leading, peer-reviewed scientific journals, including The American Journal of Cardiology and the American Heart Association’s Hypertension.

Benefits to education
Published research on the Transcendental Meditation program in educational settings during the past 30 years has shown a wide range of practical benefits for both students and teachers.

Benefits for students include:

• decreased stress and stress-related disorders
• reduced substance abuse
• increased intelligence
• increased learning ability
• improved memory
• improved academic performance
• improved standardized test scores.

Benefits for teachers include:

• decreased stress and stress-related disorders
• decreased anxiety
• reduced substance abuse
• increased creativity
• improved job satisfaction
• improved interpersonal relationships
• reduced health care utilization and costs

New research results in education

• “Reduced High Blood Pressure among High School Students”

American Journal of Hypertension, April 2004; Vernon A. Barnes, Ph.D., Research Scientist, Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta

This study found reduced blood pressure among 100 high school students practicing the Transcendental Meditation program compared with little or no change in the control group at the conclusion of the 8-month study. The study demonstrates the potential beneficial impact of the TM technique upon cardiovascular functioning in youth.

• “Reduced Stress, Increased Happiness among Middle School Students”

Rita Benn, Ph.D., Director of Education, Complementary & Alternative Medicine Research Center, University of Michigan

Two studies found evidence that the practice of the Transcendental Meditation program positively affects emotional development in early adolescent African-American children in a school setting where its practice is supported by the administration.