That’s such a great observation, Valerie—and you’re absolutely right to notice the paradox. It looks busier, but in many ways, the brain is actually operating more efficiently.
When you focus on the breath, brain regions involved in attention—especially in the frontal cortex—start pulsing in sync. It's called alpha coherence: slower, steadier waves syncing up like an orchestra playing in time together. They're not necessarily louder than beta waves (the ones that fire during planning, worrying, or trying to remember where you parked), but they’re more together. Less scatter, more symphony.
Beta waves like a crowded room where everyone’s talking over each other. Alpha waves are when the room quiets down, and everyone starts singing in harmony together.
This shift toward synchronized rhythms is linked with relaxed alertness and, over time, can support better focus even outside meditation.
Appreciate you diving into the science too—it's such a fascinating window into what presence feels like from the inside and looks like from the outside.
That's wild that your brain looks so much busier when all you're doing is focusing on your breath!
That’s such a great observation, Valerie—and you’re absolutely right to notice the paradox. It looks busier, but in many ways, the brain is actually operating more efficiently.
When you focus on the breath, brain regions involved in attention—especially in the frontal cortex—start pulsing in sync. It's called alpha coherence: slower, steadier waves syncing up like an orchestra playing in time together. They're not necessarily louder than beta waves (the ones that fire during planning, worrying, or trying to remember where you parked), but they’re more together. Less scatter, more symphony.
Beta waves like a crowded room where everyone’s talking over each other. Alpha waves are when the room quiets down, and everyone starts singing in harmony together.
This shift toward synchronized rhythms is linked with relaxed alertness and, over time, can support better focus even outside meditation.
Appreciate you diving into the science too—it's such a fascinating window into what presence feels like from the inside and looks like from the outside.
The fact that you still have the EEG from 2015 is gold! This is a good reminder for me to keep sticking to it.
Thanks Dhani! Love hearing that this gave you a boost to keep going 😊
nice stuff !
Thanks! Hearing that it’s landing is honestly the best kind of fuel.