Alexander C N, Langer E J, Newman R I, Chandler H M, Davies J L
Department of Psychology, Maharishi International University, Fairfield, Iowa 52556.
J Pers Soc Psychol. 1989 Dec;57(6):950-64. doi: 10.1037//0022-3514.57.6.950.
Can direct change in state of consciousness through specific mental techniques extend human life and reverse age-related declines? To address this question, 73 residents of 8 homes for the elderly (mean age = 81 years) were randomly assigned among no treatment and 3 treatments highly similar in external structure and expectations: the Transcendental Meditation (TM) program, mindfulness training (MF) in active distinction making, or a relaxation (low mindfulness) program. A planned comparison indicated that the "restful alert" TM group improved most, followed by MF, in contrast to relaxation and no-treatment groups, on paired associate learning; 2 measures of cognitive flexibility; mental health; systolic blood pressure; and ratings of behavioral flexibility, aging, and treatment efficacy. The MF group improved most, followed by TM, on perceived control and word fluency. After 3 years, survival rate was 100% for TM and 87.5% for MF in contrast to lower rates for other groups.
通过特定的心理技巧直接改变意识状态能否延长人类寿命并逆转与年龄相关的衰退？为了回答这个问题，8所养老院的73名居民（平均年龄 = 81岁）被随机分配到不接受治疗组以及3种在外部结构和预期方面高度相似的治疗组：超觉静坐（TM）计划、积极辨别中的正念训练（MF）或放松（低正念）计划。一项计划中的比较表明，在配对联想学习、认知灵活性的2项指标、心理健康、收缩压以及行为灵活性、衰老和治疗效果评分方面，“宁静警觉”的TM组改善最大，其次是MF组，与之形成对比的是放松组和不治疗组。在感知控制和词语流畅性方面，MF组改善最大，其次是TM组。3年后，TM组的存活率为100%，MF组为87.5%，其他组的存活率较低。
