You might think of meditation as sitting and doing nothing, but it’s not that simple. It takes active work to calm your brain, and for some people, achieving that kind of focused mindset is nearly impossible. If you want to give meditation a serious try, devices like FocusCalm aim to help you on your way (https://longevity.technology/lifestyle/focuscalm-review-the-perfect-gadget-to-train-your-brain-for-better-focus/).
Brains have a quality known as neuroplasticity, which is a fancy term for their ability to adapt. Various types of meditation and cognitive exercise aim to exploit this through what’s known as neurofeedback training (NFT), or honing your concentration and control over your thoughts. Of course, this sort of thing is pretty difficult to define, let alone measure. FocusCalm monitors your brain’s electrical activity, then analyzes it over 1250 data points using an algorithm powered by AI.
The AI gives you a score of between 0 and 100, with 0 representing the busiest type of mind and 100 representing the calmest. It doesn’t stop with telling you your current level of brain activity. It also offers a range of neurofeedback games, guided meditations and executive function tasks to encourage you to be both more relaxed and more focused, reinforcing positive responses so your brain learns the best mindset. Executive function tasks work on areas including problem-solving, decision-making and memory.
FocusCalm is relatively simple to use, sleek and lightweight, with an easy-to-navigate app and headband that can stay on even during vigorous exercise. The headband has a handy buzzing noise to help with adjustments. One of the most practical aspects of the design is a long-lasting battery that can go weeks without charging, even if you use it (briefly) every day.
If you want to track your meditation practices and your brain’s response without having to make notes yourself, a device like FocusCalm could be the answer. Maybe there could be more content among its games and guided meditations, but as a starting principle, it offers a practical way to work on your own mental state. It may even give you a new perspective, revealing weaknesses in your cognition that you’d never suspected. Plus, the games are pretty fun.
There’s no one perfect way to meditate, and for some people, it may never quite work. However, understanding your own brain a bit better is a good start, especially if it shows you how to improve.
