Highlights of Published Research on the Body and Dynamic Performance

1- Reduced metabolic activity during TM – American Journal of Physiology

 “A wakeful hypometabolic physiologic state.” This is one of the foundational TM studies. Researchers found that during TM, oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide elimination decreased, along with respiratory rate and heart rate. The authors described TM as a wakeful hypometabolic state—physiological activity was reduced while the person remained awake. This means the body was not asleep, but its metabolic demands were reduced.

2- Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Review

“The physiology of meditation: A review. A wakeful hypometabolic integrated response.” This review examined physiological research on meditation, including TM, and concluded that TM produces a coordinated pattern of reduced physiological activity. The findings included reductions in oxygen consumption, respiratory rate and sympathetic nervous-system activity.

3- A later research review describes TM as producing “unique deep metabolic rest” and summarizes evidence from a meta-analysis of 32 studies. During TM, researchers found reductions in respiratory rate and plasma lactate and increased basal skin resistance—physiological changes consistent with reduced sympathetic activation. Read the full research review at PubMed Central

4- A study examining acute hemodynamic effects of TM describes the practice as producing “restful alertness” and reports reductions in respiration rate, sympathetic nervous-system tone, HPA-axis activation and cortisol. That demonstrates that the rest isn’t merely a subjective feeling of relaxation; measurable physiological systems change during the meditation.

5- A 2018 Brain and Cognition study used fMRI to examine TM and found increased activity in frontal brain regions along with decreased activity in areas including the pons and cerebellum, compared with ordinary eyes-closed rest. The researchers interpreted the pattern as consistent with alertness together with deep physiological rest. TM wasn’t simply the same as sitting quietly with your eyes closed.

6- A systematic review published in Obesity reviews in 2024 examined the role of TM in cardiometabolic health and reviewed evidence concerning physiological mechanisms and cardiovascular risk factors.