In focused meditation, consciousness does not flow smoothly like a river; instead, it transitions between distinct phases, where sharp concentration on the breath gives way to a sense of spatial awareness, which then leads to a subtle observation of the process itself. A new study proposes a mathematical model capable of replicating these transitions through the dynamics of large neural populations within the cortex.
Researchers from the L2S laboratory at CNRS in France—M. Virginia Bolelli, Luca Greco, and Dario Prandi—presented a framework that combines heteroclinic dynamics with discrete neural field models. According to a preprint recently published on arXiv, this combination effectively describes the cyclic patterns of activity specific to focused meditation practices.
Most previous neuroscientific studies on meditation have documented broad shifts, such as increased theta rhythms or changes in the prefrontal cortex. While these findings are significant, they fail to explain the mechanism behind the rigid, sequential nature of state changes. The new model addresses this gap by demonstrating how interactions within neural populations create stable regimes that then trigger transitions between states.
The core mechanism involves heteroclinic cycles, which allow neural ensembles to move from one stable state to another through points of instability. Imagine a landscape with several basins: the "ball" of current activity can remain in one basin for an extended period, but a slight perturbation caused by an intentional shift in attention causes it to roll into the next. The authors argue that this is precisely how the sequence of cognitive phases unfolds during meditation.
This approach raises fundamental questions about whether consciousness is a truly continuous process. Unlike theories that emphasize the global broadcasting of information, this model focuses on local population interactions that generate ordered sequences. Such a framework will likely prove useful for understanding not only meditation but also other altered states, including specific phases of sleep or hypnosis.
While the model currently remains theoretical, the authors emphasize the need for validation through high-precision recordings of brain activity. Nevertheless, it already provides a new perspective on how contemplative practices can influence the trajectories of neural dynamics. If further research confirms these predictions, it could fundamentally alter how we study consciousness, shifting the focus toward its discrete and cyclic organization.
From a broader perspective, the work serves as a reminder that even the most subjective experiences are rooted in the rigorous mathematical organization of neural populations. It also invites us to consider the extent to which our everyday shifts in attention might also be governed by similar hidden cycles.
