Evidence map›Paper›PMID 32435483›Full record

ArticleSAGE open medicine2020

Effects of Maharishi Light Technology with Gems: A random-assignment, placebo-controlled, blinded pilot study.

Frederick Travis, Ayala Melzer, David Scharf

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in SAGE open medicine, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Frederick TravisCenter for the Brain, Consciousness, and Cognition, Maharishi International University, Fairfield, IA, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1720-3184
Ayala MelzerCollege of Perfect Health, Vlodrop, The Netherlands.
David ScharfDepartment of Physics, Maharishi International University, Fairfield, IA, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesThis blinded random-assignment, placebo-controlled pilot study investigated the effects of Maharishi Light Technology with Gems on three self-report measures: a questionnaire with a 5-point Likert-type scale, the Profile of Mood States (POMS), and an open-ended question. This pilot is the beginning of a research program to test the effects of this therapy.

methodsIn total, 18 meditating subjects received two treatments on consecutive days, randomly either Maharishi Light Technology or placebo, then 2 weeks rest, and then the other treatment on consecutive days.

resultsIn comparison to placebo treatments, Maharishi Light Technology treatments were (1) rated as being significantly more settled, (2) higher on the Positive Self-Esteem subscale of the POMS and (3) described by the terms: healing, wholeness, and bliss.

conclusionThese treatments lead to significant improvements on self-report measures. Future research could assess their effects across both meditating and nonmeditating populations, using physiological measures to probe possible mechanisms of the effects.

Indexed as

color therapyfirst-person reportsGemslight

Identifiers

PMID32435483
PMCPMC7222645

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.