Novices tend to think of meditation as the brain at rest, but a new international study concludes that this ancient practice is quite the opposite: Meditation is a state of heightened cerebral activity that profoundly alters brain dynamics. The data were then processed with advanced signal analysis and machine learning tools to extract different indicators of neural complexity and dynamics. Striking a BalanceResults published in the journal Neuroscience of Consciousness show both forms of meditation increase the complexity of brain signals compared to a brain at rest. This finding suggests the brain in meditation does not simply calm down but rather enters a dynamic state rich with information. This indicates that, although both practices increase brain complexity, they do so through different dynamic configurations, consistent with their subjective experiences.