b'12 GLOBAL UNION OF SCIENTISTS FOR PEACE SCIENTIFIC SOLUTIONS TO VIOLENCE AND GLOBAL CONFLICT 134TM REDUCES STRESS, IMPROVES INDIVIDUAL BEHAVIORExtensive research has shown that a simple, evidence-fMRI: Restoration of balanced brain functioning.Chronic and/or traumatic stress shuts based meditation practice, the Transcendental Meditationdown the prefrontal cortex (higher brain) and causes chronic excitation of the amygdala (TM) technique, markedly reduces individual stress(fear center). TM practice deactivates the amygdala and surrounding subcortical structures and its damaging effects on the brain and behavior. (blue, above), and stimulates activity in the prefrontal cortex (orange).The Transcendental Meditation technique was revived from the ancient Vedic tradition and reformulated as a systematic, scientific practice by physicist and scholar Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. It is practiced for 20 minutes twice daily while sitting comfortably with the eyes closed, and does not involve religion, philosophy, or change in lifestyle.The TM technique provides the individual with the experience of a unique, fourth major state of consciousness, distinct from waking, dreaming, or sleep states of consciousnessa state of deep physiological relaxation and heightened mental alertness.Reducing anxiety; promoting a state of deep relaxationAccording to research, the Transcendental Meditation technique reduces acute stress far more effectively than other available meditation or relaxation techniques. In a meta-analysis of 142 published scientific articles studying various meditation and relaxation methods, the TM technique was more than twice as effective as other methods in reducing trait anxiety [4] and produces a correspondingly deeper state of physiological relaxation [5].Activating the higher brain, deactivating the fear centerTM quells excessive activity in the primitive or reactive brain (brain stem and surrounding subcortical structuressee figure, opposite page), calming the neurophysiology of fear and aggression. Equally important, TM activates the prefrontal cortex (higher brain) and strengthens communication between the prefrontal cortex and different areas of the brain. The resulting integrated state of brain functioning leads to enhanced cognitive and executive functioningand markedly reduced aggressive, violent, antisocial behavior, even in highly stressed or traumatized individuals.For example, research shows that Transcendental Meditation practice produces a statistically large and clinically significant decline in PTSD severity scores among combat veterans and war refugees in as few as ten days of learning the technique [6-10] and sharply reduces recidivism rates among incarcerated adults [11,12], substance abuse [13,14], and stress-related diseases, including heart attack, stroke, and death, as compared to controls [15].'