Your Brain On Meditation [infographic]

Now, we take pride for being total yogadorks here, and sometimes we even find ourselves sitting in a proper geek meditation to clear the cache. But, while many of us are familiar with the effect meditation has on our mood, temper and attitude from our own experience with the practice, do you know what actually happens in the waves of your noggin?

Thanks to the creatively geeky minds at MAKE this infographic provides a look inside the undulations of brain waves as we meditate. May the theta and delta forces be with you!

Illustration by Timmy Kucynda.

Want extra credit? Head over to MAKE to create your very own Brain Machine! The device will perform what Sound and Light Machines do using varying levels of light and binaural beats. It works like this:

The brain produces varying proportions of brain wave types, depending on its current levels of relaxation, focus, and other mental states. Each type of wave has its own characteristic frequency range, which can be read by electroencephalography. Many people’s brain waves will synchronize to lights and sounds pulsing at brain wave frequencies, and this makes the brain change its state — a process called “entrainment.” By playing sequences of pulses into your eyes and ears, you can program your brain to follow any brain wave experience you like.

Let us know if you’re crafty enough to try it! Or, you know, just do it the old fashioned way and SIT. No tools required.

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Earlier…

• New Tech Tool, Kinobi, Will Teach You Yoga So Your Yoga Teacher Doesn’t Have To
• What Is Your Yogi Name? Read This Chart and Find Out
• Geek Meditation Funny Comic
• Smart Girls: Amy Poehler Interviews 9-Year-Old About Yoga
• ‘Friends’ Co-Creator Introduces Us to Our ‘Vachakra’ In Funny New Yoga-Themed Web Series