Field model of consciousness: EEG coherence changes as indicators of field effects


Author: Travis FT//Orme-Johnson DW

Affiliation: EEG Lab, Psychology Dept. MIU Fairfield, IA 52556
Conference/Journal: Int J Neurosci
Date published: 1989
Other:
 Volume ID: 49   ,  Issue ID: 3-4   ,  Pages: 203-11   ,  Word Count: 121  
    hanges in EEG coherence patterns were used to test a field model that posits a common field of 'pure consciousness' linking all individuals. In ten trials, EEG was concurrently measured from pairs of subjects, one practicing Transcendental Meditation (TM) and the TM-Sidhi technique of 'Yogic Flying' (YFg)--said to enliven the proposed field of consciousness--and the other performing a computer task. Box-Jenkins ARIMA transfer function analysis indicated that coherence changes in the YF's 5.7-8.5 Hz band, the band sensitive to TM and YFg, consistently led coherence changes in the other subject's 4.7-42.7 Hz band. A clear relationship was seen among subjective reports, coherence patterns, and strength of intervention effects. These data support a field model of consciousness. Alternate explanations are explored.