Harald Harung has visited Maharishi International University many times, and has worked closely with MIU Professor Fred Travis in developing both research papers and a published book on high performance athletes and their neurological similarities to practitioners of the Transcendental Meditation Program®
Harald Harung is a prominent researcher who has extensively studied peak performance in athletes. His research delves into the intersection of consciousness, meditation, and sports, offering valuable insights into how these elements can enhance athletic performance.
Harung’s work emphasizes the importance of holistic approaches to training, highlighting the role of Transcendental Meditation (TM) in promoting mental clarity, resilience, and focus among athletes. Through his studies, he has demonstrated that integrating TM into athletes’ routines leads to faster reaction times, improved cognitive function, and reduced levels of stress hormones such as cortisol.
Several articles discuss Harung’s research and its implications for athletes seeking to optimize their performance.
New study sheds light on “peak experiences” in world-class performers
The article discusses a study by Dr. Harald Harung on peak experiences among world-class performers in various fields, including sports and music. It highlights unique brain wave characteristics and high states of consciousness during peak performance, indicating an association between these states and high performance levels. The study also found that top performers displayed higher moral development, suggesting a connection between performance excellence and high moral standards. Additionally, it mentions the potential of cultivating these states through practices like Transcendental Meditation (TM) to enhance performance
The study explored the relationship between psycho-physiological development and performance level in world-class athletes, comparing 33 Norwegian elite athletes to 33 average performers across various sports. It utilized electroencephalography (EEG) to measure brain integration, skin conductance for stimulus habituation, and assessments for self-development, moral development, and peak experiences. Analysis identified three factors—physiological integration, self- and moral development, and peak experiences—accounting for a significant variance in performance. Results showed that higher psycho-physiological development is associated with superior athletic performance, suggesting that such development underlies high-level sports performance. For more details, you can read the full article on PubMed
Research breakthrough: High brain integration underlies winning performances.
The research highlighted in the EurekAlert article reveals that top performers, whether in management, sports, or music, possess unique brain characteristics that contribute to their exceptional abilities. This conclusion is based on studies comparing the brain activity of high-level performers to that of average performers using EEG. Key findings include higher scores on the Brain Integration Scale, better socio-moral reasoning, and more frequent peak experiences among the elite. This research, offering insights into the neurophysiological underpinnings of high performance, suggests a link between advanced brain integration and excellence in various fields. For a detailed overview, you can view the full article on EurekAlert (EurekAlert).
BOOK – on Amazon: Excellence through Mind-Brain Development: The Secrets of World-Class Performers
In exploring the paths to achieving excellence and fulfillment, it’s revealed that traditional metrics like education, work experience, and age barely impact performance levels. Dr. Harald S. Harung and Dr. Frederick Travis uncover that the essence of unparalleled achievement across any field lies in advanced mind-brain development. This concept transcends the usual understanding, highlighting a profound evolution in brain functionality and perceptions of self, others, and the environment. The book elucidates how superior mind-brain development enriches knowledge, skills, relationships, and effectiveness, supported by research on the neurophysiological distinctions in top performers, emphasizing the significance of peak experiences and an optimized brain for achieving world-class success.
Podcast: The Neuroscience Behing the World’s Top Performing Athletes
Podcast: Interview with Harald Harung