Transcendental Meditation Improves Brain Function in Children with ADHD

Mind & Brain, The Journal of Psychiatry, UK

A new study published this week in Mind & Brain, The Journal of Psychiatry found significantly improved general brain functioning and decreased symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, ADHD, in school children practising Transcendental Meditation.

The randomly assigned controlled study was conducted over a period of 6 months in an independent school for children with language-based learning disabilities in Washington, DC, USA. Those children meditating for 10 minutes twice daily showed increased brain processing, improved language-based skills, and improvement in behaviour in five key areas. This publication follows a previous published study among ADHD students which found that practice of the Transcendental Meditation technique reduced stress, anxiety and ADHD symptoms by 50 percent after a three-month period.

The latest research group were eighteen children, aged 11 to 14 years, diagnosed with ADHD. EEG measurements of their brain functioning were taken while they were performing a demanding computer-based visual-motor task. Successful performance on the task requires attention, focus, memory, and impulse control. In addition, students were administered a verbal fluency test. All the tests were carried out outside of meditation.

High levels of theta brainwaves combined with low levels of beta waves are a key characteristic in people with ADHD. The study found that 6 months of TM practice resulted in a 48 percent reduction in theta/beta ratios – and a 30 percent increase in brain coherence. Studies have shown that pharmaceuticals decrease theta/beta power ratios by 3percent.

"These are very encouraging findings," said Dr William Stixrud, a clinical neuropsychologist and co-author of the study. "Significant improvement in the theta/beta ratio without medication and without having to use any expensive equipment is a big deal; as is the significant improvement in student happiness and student academic functioning reported by the parents."

Dr Fred Travis, lead author and director of the Center for Brain, Consciousness and Cognition in Iowa, USA, says it is significant that with regular practice the effects of Transcendental Meditation become more present outside of meditation.

"In a sense," Dr. Travis said, "the repeated experience of the Transcendental Meditation technique trains the brain to function in a style opposite to that of ADHD."

Read more at Mind & Brain, The Journal of Psychiatry