Deep relaxation and mental alertness

Researchers discovered significant reductions in respiration, minute ventilation, tidal volume, and blood lactate, and significant increases in basal skin resistance. All of these physiological measures represent a state of deep relaxation, even deeper than sleep. And they found that even though the body is in a state of deep rest, the mind is alert rather than asleep, indicated by an increased abundance of alpha waves in the EEG.This unique state of restful alertness led pioneering researcher Dr. Keith Wallace to suggest it was a fourth major state of consciousness — transcendental consciousness — distinct from the waking, dreaming, and deep sleep states of consciousness. For the past 30 years, many other researchers have confirmed and expanded upon this initial research on transcendental consciousness.