In March 2021, an experiment was conducted:
70 healthy women, ages 19-28, were divided into two groups of 35 participants each and underwent three weeks of training.
The main group that had no previous knowledge of methods of personal evolution was trained from scratch in the most elementary practices of emotions, wishes, and thinking management adapted for the pilot project.
Simultaneously, the active control group practiced a conventional emotional literacy approach with a psychologist.
Before and after the training, a wide range of inflammatory, immune, hormonal, metabolic, and epigenetic markers were measured in blood and saliva for all participants. They also underwent psychological (Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory) and cognitive testing and answered questionnaires about their sleep and physical activity patterns.
An important point: at the end of the experiment, all the participants gave grades from 1 to 5, evaluating their satisfaction with the knowledge and practices received. In both groups, almost all of them gave maximum grades, i.e., the level of subjective satisfaction with the lessons was the same in both groups.
The cognitive abilities of the participants of the main group, who studied and applied the methods of personal evolution, increased significantly on many basic parameters, and their emotional state markedly improved.
The control group, who practiced emotional literacy with a psychologist, had some positive results in their emotional state and almost no change in their cognitive abilities.
As the main psychological test, we chose MMPI-2 (Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory test) – a standardized and most widely used method among psychologists to research individual features and psychological states of personality. In addition to it, we took several other psychological questionnaires.
To assess cognitive abilities, we used:
▪️ Raven’s Matrices – a non-verbal test typically used to measure general human intelligence and abstract reasoning
▪️ Stroop test to measure selective attention abilities and skills, cognitive flexibility, and the speed of information processing
▪️ The 20 Words in 40 Seconds Memorization Test to assess memory retention and memorization efficiency
▪️ Schulte Tables for testing attention.
For both groups – the main and the control group – we examined the average change in the selected indicators, measured before and after the experiment. We selected those indicators where the changes were statistically significant.
To evaluate the effect of personal evolution methods on the immune system, hormonal balance, and general metabolism, we selected about 80 biochemical markers. Their values were measured before the beginning of training and after a three-week training course.
MMPI-2 (Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory)
In the main group that studied and used the methods of personal evolution, the index of depression decreased by 11%, psychasthenia by 7%, and hypochondria by 7%.
In the control group that had emotional literacy classes with a psychologist, the rate of schizophrenia decreased by 4%.
Definitions of these scales from the MMPI-2 documentation:
▪️ Depression is an indicator of depression, general dissatisfaction with oneself, life, and prospects, and a persistent decline in mood, accompanied by a drop in the intensity of emotional, mental, and physical activity.
▪️ Psychasthenia is an indicator of increased fearfulness, constitutionally determined anxiety, insecurity, conformity, and suspiciousness. High values indicate an anxious state within the framework of neurotic or neurosis-like disorders.
▪️ Hypochondria is an indicator of stiffness, excessive control, and increased orientation to normativity (social normality) as a stable personality feature manifested by excessive attention to deviations from the normal functioning of one’s body (i.e., psychological problems are transferred to fear of illness, anxiety due to unusual bodily sensations, increased self-diagnosis of illness).
▪️ Schizophrenia is an indicator not of schizophrenia but of a schizoid personality type. This type is characterized by a tendency to avoid emotionally intense relationships through excessive theorizing, withdrawal into themselves, and withdrawal into fantasy. In addition, they show emotional coldness, little interest in sexual contacts, a lack of particular motivation for social interaction, and a preference for solitary activities (asociality), as well as anhedonia.
Questionnaire for assessing emotional states
The Russian equivalent of the PANAS (Positive and Negative Affect Schedule) methodology is one of the most widespread tools for rapidly assessing a wide range of positive and negative emotional states.
In the main group, after the personal evolution classes, the mean values of the following criteria increased:
full of energy by 23%,
frightened by 29%,
determined by 16%,
attentive by 13%,
alert by 15%,
and the level of positive emotions in general by 14%.
In addition, there was a decrease in the mean value of the criterion:
ashamed by 24%.
In the control group, the mean values of the following criteria increased:
enthusiastic by 13%,
interested by 14%,
and confident by 17%.
Life satisfaction questionnaire
In the main group, the current life satisfaction increased by 26%, and the overall life satisfaction increased by 21% after the personality evolution classes.
In the control group, there were no statistically significant changes.
Resilience and Uncertainty Tolerance Questionnaire
In the main group, the following values increased after the personal evolution classes:
involvement in what is happening by 23%,
control over their lives by 23%,
and overall resilience by 19%.
In the control group, the involvement in what is happening value increased by 18%.
▪️ The involvement indicator assesses the belief that being involved in what is going on maximizes the chance of finding something worthwhile and interesting to the individual. A person with a developed involvement component enjoys their activities.
▪️ The control indicator reflects the belief that struggle allows one to influence the outcome of what is happening, even if this influence is not absolute and success is not guaranteed. The opposite is the feeling of helplessness. A person with a strongly developed control component feels that they choose their activities and their own path.
▪️ The indicator of general resilience represents the ability to depend less on situational experiences, to overcome constant basic anxiety, which increases in a situation of uncertainty and the need to choose.
Creativity Questionnaire
No statistically significant changes were found in both groups.
Results of cognitive tests:
Raven’s test
In the main group, after the personal evolution classes, the results in the last, most difficult part of Raven’s test, aimed at assessing abstract thinking and the ability for dynamic synthesis, improved by 23%.
The overall level of non-verbal intelligence increased by 4%.
No statistically significant changes were found in the control group.
Memory test
In the main group, after the personal evolution classes, the number of correctly reproduced words increased by 31%, and the productivity of memorization increased by 39%.
In the control group, no statistically significant changes were found.
Schulte tables for attention testing
No statistically significant changes were found in the main group.
In the control group, the average time of test completion decreased by 15%.
The Stroop test
No statistically significant changes were found in both groups.
Blood and saliva biochemical markers: inflammatory, immune, hormonal, metabolic, epigenetic
To evaluate the effect of personal evolution techniques on the immune system, hormonal balance, and general metabolism, we selected about 80 biochemical markers, the values of which were measured before and after the 3-week course.
There was a statistically significant change in the levels of 14 biomarkers for the main group that practiced personal evolution techniques and in the levels of 8 biomarkers for the control group that received emotional literacy training.
The very fact that almost twice as many parameters changed after the personal evolution classes as in the control group confirms our assumption that the use of personal evolution technology has a significant positive impact on the optimization of all body systems. And we certainly want to experiment further with studying the effects of this technology on human physiology, biochemistry, hormonal, immune systems, and epigenetics. It would be interesting to repeat this experiment in larger cohorts to increase statistical power and to test new biomarkers and diagnostic methods.
Of the 14 biomarkers in the main group and 8 biomarkers in the control group in which statistically significant changes were found, 7 biomarkers are the same for both groups. We will discuss them first.
Throughout this report, we will talk about changes in the median value of a particular biomarker for the main or control group. The median value is defined so that half of the group has values of this biomarker less than the median and the other half more.
🟣 One of the most interesting results is the increase in median serotonin levels.
Serotonin is a hormone that has a massive impact on mental health. Low serotonin levels have been linked to depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, ADHD, autism, suicidal tendencies, and sleep problems. Increasing serotonin levels within normal range stabilizes mood and enhances a sense of well-being. A person feels happy, calm, focused, emotionally stable, and less anxious.
Besides being one of the key hormones for a person’s mental health, serotonin influences the functioning of multiple processes in the body. It is responsible for stimulating the part of our brain that helps control the sleep-wake cycle. Serotonin is also involved in memory regulation. Furthermore, it interacts closely with the immune system and is a powerful immunomodulator. It promotes rapid wound healing, supports bone health, regulates the stomach and intestines, and influences the physiology of the blood vessels, heart, and lungs. It is difficult to find a physiological process that does not involve serotonin.
Thus, by affecting serotonin levels in the normal range, it is possible to have an optimizing effect on many systems and processes in the body.
The median value of serotonin after the course increased by 17.6% in the main group and 10.1% in the control group while remaining within the normal range. Before the classes, the median serotonin level was 110 ng/mL in the main group and 99 ng/mL in the control group.
Two other independent experiments of applying personal evolution techniques confirm that efforts in cultivating evolutionary perceptions increase serotonin levels as one of the results.
In five months, my serotonin level (I also took the tests, and during this period, I was more engaged in cultivating various evolutionary states than usual) increased by 32%, whereas before the beginning of this experiment, it was already 347 ng/mL – about 3.5 times higher than that of the ladies in the experiment.
My partner in the experiment organization also accumulated the experience of anticipation, physical pleasure, and other pleasant perceptions more actively than usual during these five months (1-2 hours per day), and her serotonin level increased by 63%, while before the beginning of the experiment, it was the same as that of the ladies in the experiment – 100 ng/ml.
At the moment, serotonin looks like the most appropriate biomarker from our panel for assessing emotional state and changes in it.
🟣 Another interesting result is the decrease in levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-1-beta (IL-1b).
Cytokines are small proteins that transmit signals between cells, enabling the development of an immune response. They are active in very low concentrations.
IL-1b is the predominant form of interleukin-1 and has a broad spectrum of action. It stimulates and regulates inflammatory and immune processes; activates immune cells – neutrophils, T- and B-lymphocytes; stimulates the synthesis of acute phase proteins; promotes the processes of phagocytosis (capture and destruction of foreign and harmful microorganisms) and hematopoiesis; increases the permeability of the vascular wall, the cytotoxic and bactericidal activity of cells; contributes to the development of fever.
Increased levels of IL-1b are associated with acute and systemic inflammation, various auto-inflammatory diseases, the development of multiple sclerosis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Decreased levels of this cytokine presumably indicate a decrease in systemic inflammation and the risks of developing related auto-inflammatory diseases.
The median value of interleukin-1-beta after the course decreased in the main group by 70.4% from the initial level of 10.1 pg/mL and in the control group by 63.1% from the initial 8.7 pg/mL.
🟣 The increase in median calcium level by 4.1% in the main group and 4.5% in the control group from the original 2.4 mmol/L remains within the normal range of 2.2-2.55 mmol/L.
This increase may be associated with the decrease in interleukin-1-beta levels. InCHIANTI data studies have shown that plasma interleukin-1-beta levels are inversely correlated with calcium levels.
🟣 Another interesting aspect is the difference in the dynamics of somatomedin (insulin-like growth factor, IGF-1) levels, a hormone that is the most important endocrine mediator of growth hormone. It plays an active role in regulating the growth and differentiation processes of almost any type of cells and tissues in the body. IGF-1 levels vary throughout life, with the highest levels during adolescence.
In the main group, the median somatomedin level increased by 1.6% from the initial 208 ng/mL level.
In the control group, it decreased by 17.6% from the original 280 ng/mL. This age group’s normal range of somatomedin is 127-330 ng/mL.
🟣 The median level of NT-pro BNP biomarker increased 3.2 times in the main group and 3.5 times in the control group but remained very low and did not exceed 3 pg/mL, which is very far from the threshold of 200 pg/mL that is used to diagnose heart failure.
Brain natriuretic hormone (BNP) is produced by heart cells as a prohormone in which biologically active BNP is attached to an N-terminal fragment of the prohormone (NT-pro BNP), whose biological role has yet to be clarified. Later, a special protease cuts the prohormone, and the BNP does its job. NT-pro BNP is often used as an indicator of BNP levels and a characteristic of the severity of heart failure.
BNP is secreted when there is increased pressure in the ventricles of the heart and stretching of the ventricular walls. It has a protective effect on the heart by interacting with the cells of the vascular walls, lowering blood pressure and thus reducing the heart’s workload.
The physiological significance of the change in BNP levels in such a range in healthy people is unclear.
Modern medicine, in general, knows rather little about what characterizes changes in the level of biomarkers in healthy people as long as they remain within a very wide range of physiological norms. Medicine deals with sick people – with diagnosis and treatment, and the matters of optimization of immune, endocrine, and all other physiological systems in healthy people remain outside the sphere of modern medicine. Medicine cannot advise how to keep people healthy and not turn into sick ones.
There is a need for a new discipline in medicine that would study the physiology of healthy people and optimize the work of all body systems. Moreover, such a discipline cannot be created without understanding the critical role of a healthy human psyche and its influence on the work of all physiological systems and without using methods of personal evolution.
🟣 The median value of free testosterone level decreased in the main group by 72% and in the control group by 74% from the initial level of 1 pg/mL, remaining within the physiological norm of 0.1-4.1 pg/mL.
The physiological significance of testosterone level fluctuation for females in such a range is unknown. From the psychological side, the excessively high testosterone level in females contributes to the emergence of aggressive, hysterical states.
🟣 The median value of mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration increased in the main group by 3% and in the control group by 2% from the original 333 g/l. The normal range of this biomarker for females is 320-360 g/L.
Human erythrocytes are small and elastic postcellular structures with no nucleus or many organelles and are packed with hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is a complex protein that includes non-protein groups, hemes, that contain iron. The iron within the heme is able to bind reversibly to an oxygen molecule, which allows red blood cells to perform their primary function of carrying oxygen from the lungs to the body’s tissues.
Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) characterizes the density of hemoglobin filling the erythrocyte. MCHC is the most sensitive and stable of all erythrocyte indices, so its changes are of great value in diagnosis.
It can be assumed that the more densely the erythrocyte is filled with hemoglobin (within normal physiological values), the better it copes with its work on the oxygenation of tissues.
Now let us proceed with those 7 biomarkers that changed with statistical significance only in the main group that was trained in personal evolution methods:
🟣 The median uric acid value decreased by 5.4% from the original 217 µmol/L before the experiment.
A decrease in uric acid levels within the normal range for healthy women, 150-350 μmol/L, may indicate a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, urolithiasis, and vascular inflammation due to lactic acid crystal deposits.
Such considerations are theoretical assumptions because there are no studies for most biomarkers – what is affected by changes in blood biochemistry parameters for healthy people within the normal range. Сonsequently, there is no experimental data on this topic. Nevertheless, based on the data regarding what is associated with increased or decreased readings of a biomarker relative to the norm, it is possible to assume what processes may be affected by changes in its level within the normal range.
🟣 The median alkaline phosphatase value decreased by 16.8% from the original 56.5 U/L, moving toward the lower end of the normal range of 35-104 U/L.
Alkaline phosphatase testing is usually performed to evaluate gallbladder, liver, and bile duct function or bone health. Diseases that destroy the cells of these organs result in the release of alkaline phosphatase into the blood and, consequently, an increase in alkaline phosphatase levels in the blood.
A decrease in alkaline phosphatase levels within the normal range may mean a reduced risk of abnormalities in these organs.
🟣 The median albumin level increased by 3.1% from the 44.8 g/L level before the experiment, remaining within the normal 35-50 g/L range.
Albumin is synthesized in the liver and makes up the majority of all serum proteins. The total surface area of the many small albumin molecules is very large, so they are particularly well suited as carriers for many poorly soluble substances, which bind with albumin and are thus delivered by the bloodstream to the desired site.
The physiologic significance of this increase in albumin levels in the normal range is unclear.
🟣 The median cortisol level in the morning saliva sample increased by 404% from the original 1.08 ng/mL while remaining close to the lower limit of the normal 1-23 ng/mL range. Changes in daily cortisol at the same time (the sum of 4 cortisol measurements during the day) were not statistically significant.
Cortisol is a hormone that helps us cope with stressful situations. Under its action, the bloodstream is saturated with glucose to provide energy to the brain, heart, and muscles. It increases the heart rate, the tone of the arteries, and the sensitivity of blood vessel walls to the action of various hormones and maintains normal blood pressure. It increases the influence of other hormones, such as adrenaline. Inflammatory processes are suppressed. Long-term and strong increase in cortisol levels, like during chronic stress or depression, leads to many negative consequences.
It is unclear what the significance is of a short-term increase in morning cortisol within the normal range. It may be a response to the new tasks of observing one’s perceptions and forming new habits. Any new skill or learning something requires an unfamiliar effort; it is a routine stressful situation that may be accompanied by a short-term increase in cortisol levels.
High morning cortisol mobilizes a person, making them more energetic, focused, and attentive. Presumably, it also helps to create an optimal emotional background for creative, exploratory, constructive activity right from the morning.
🟣 Median sodium levels decreased by 1.7% from the original 139 mmol/L before the experiment, remaining within the normal 136-145 mmol/L range.
Sodium is an ion found in all body fluids outside of cells that performs a large number of functions. Its primary role is maintaining water balance in the body, keeping enough water in the blood plasma, lymph, and intercellular fluid so that the cells are comfortable and can function normally. A constant level of sodium in the body is maintained by the kidneys and the complex work of the hormonal system.
The physiologic significance of this fluctuation of sodium levels within the normal range is unclear.
🟣 The median erythrocyte sedimentation rate in the general blood count increased by 75% from the original 4mm/h and remained far from the threshold of even mild inflammation of 15-20mm/h.
The erythrocyte sedimentation rate is commonly used as a marker to detect inflammation or other pathologic processes in the body when it is severely increased. Small changes in erythrocyte sedimentation rate can result from changes in diet, exercise, or stress.
The physiologic significance of such a change in erythrocyte sedimentation rate within the normal range is unclear.
🟣 Median glucose levels increased by 5.4% for a value of 4.4 mmol/L before the experiment, remaining in the normal 3.3-5.5 mmol/L range.
This increase in glucose is likely a consequence of increased morning cortisol.
Maintaining glucose levels in the normal range is vital to allow all cells and tissues of the body to feed and function normally. The physiologic significance of fluctuations in glucose levels within the normal range is still unclear.
And the last biomarker that changed with statistical significance in the control group but not in the main group:
🟣 The median value of the absolute basophil number in the general blood count increased by 66.7% from the initial 0.03 bln/L and remained within the normal range of 0.01-0.065 bln/L.
Basophils are a class of immune cells leukocytes involved in inflammatory processes and the development of allergic reactions. Basophil granules contain many biologically active substances that help trigger and maintain an allergic reaction that blocks the allergen and prevents it from spreading through the bloodstream. They also attract other immune cells to the site of inflammation and help them deal with the source of infection. The physiologic significance of these changes in basophil levels is unclear. It can be hypothesized that increased basophil counts may increase the likelihood of unwanted autoimmune reactions and increase the background inflammation that damages our bodies.
According to the results of the questionnaires assessing sleep and physical activity (PA), no changes after the experiment passed the cutoff for statistical significance, which can be explained by the small number of participants and the large discreteness of response options. However, the closest to it were changes in sleep duration in the main group (they started to sleep a little longer) and changes in the number of hours per week when the ladies engaged in PA – more girls in the main group started to engage more in PA compared to the control group. We can assume that they became more energetic as a result of the personal evolution classes.
As for my assistant Tanya, during the five months since the beginning of the experiment, when she was accumulating evolutionary perceptions for 1-2 hours per day, her serotonin level increased by 63%, and her DHEA-sulfate level increased by 9 (!) times. Before the experiment, it was 0.9 µmol/L, and it became 8.3.
My serotonin increased by 32% in five months, while before the beginning of this experiment, its level was already 347 ng/mL – about 3.5 times higher than the others. My DHEA-sulfate increased by 10% in 5 months, and it was 12.2 µmol/l before the beginning of the experiment.
Serotonin is a hormone that has a massive impact on mental health. Low serotonin levels have been linked to depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, ADHD, autism, suicidal tendencies, and sleep problems. Increasing serotonin levels within normal range stabilizes mood and enhances a sense of well-being. A person feels happy, calm, focused, emotionally stable, and less anxious.
Besides being one of the key hormones for a person’s mental health, serotonin influences the functioning of multiple processes in the body. It is responsible for stimulating the part of our brain that helps control the sleep-wake cycle. Serotonin is also involved in memory regulation. Furthermore, it interacts closely with the immune system and is a powerful immunomodulator. It promotes rapid wound healing, supports bone health, regulates the stomach and intestines, and influences the physiology of the blood vessels, heart, and lungs. It is difficult to find a physiological process that does not involve serotonin.
The activity of DGEA-sulfate is associated with the regulation of nerve cells; in particular, it acts as an activator or suppressor of different types of receptors. Interestingly, DHEA-sulfate activates nerve growth factors and brain-derived neurotrophic factors, which means that an increase in its concentration is accompanied at least by the formation of new connections between neurons and, at most, is a sign of neurogenesis. The more branched connections neurons form, the more information is stored in the brain, the more new facts a person can use to generate new ideas, and the more experiences and sensations become familiar and habitual.
Furthermore, DHEA-sulfate serves as a circulating reserve for another form of the hormone with a detached sulfate group: DHEA. Blood levels of DHEA-sulfate are 250-300 times higher than those of DHEA, and its half-life is 7-10 hours – noticeably longer than the 15-30 minute half-life of DHEA.
Therefore, it is logical that the supplies of this hormone are stored in the more stable form of DHEA-sulfate, which means that when it increases, the levels of DHEA in the blood will also increase. DHEA, in turn, has a wide range of biological effects.
DHEA, together with cortisol, helps the body adapt to stress more effectively. Stress can be of any kind: physical, mental, and emotional.
DHEA mitigates and balances the long-term effects of cortisol during chronic stress, especially the immune-suppressing effects of cortisol.
Decreased levels of DHEA have been linked to allergies, inflammation, fatigue, autoimmune problems, sexual dysfunction, infections, insomnia, cognitive decline, cardiovascular disease, bone mass loss, depression, and cancer.
DHEA has a protective effect against cardiovascular disease. It improves bone mineral density and inhibits osteoporosis.
DHEA improves sexual desire in men and women equally.
DHEA supports healthy cognitive functions and mood. The hormone supports the production and functioning of neurotransmitters in the brain. It has regenerative activity on brain tissue.
People with low levels of DHEA are more susceptible to anxiety and depression.
DHEA prevents the development of diabetes mellitus. The hormone allows cells to metabolize glucose more efficiently, reducing tissue insulin resistance.