Learn more about meditation and default mode – BionicOldGuy

The Default Mode Network (DFN) is the neuroscientific term for the parts of your brain that are active when you’re not performing a task, so the brain is « resting. » The problem is that our brains don’t rest in this state, they become active in « experience » mode, which can be unpleasant. So most people are not comfortable just sitting there, they prefer some kind of stimulus like music, video games, social media, etc. I described all of this and remedies in the previous post Calm Your “Default Mode”. I wanted to know more about it, so I talked about it with Gemini. This was with Gemini 3.0 in « thinking mode », with a deep exploration tool enabled, so it wasn’t just using its own training data, but doing a deep search for relevant sources on the web.

I was particularly interested in the many areas of overlap between the descriptions of DFN and what is called the « monkey mind » by meditation teachers. This happens to most people when they try to meditate. You are given a basic instruction such as « sit upright with your eyes closed and watch your breath as it flows in and out. » But as soon as you try this, your mind is flooded with thoughts about the fool who cut you off in traffic, the rude thing someone said yesterday, worries about your upcoming tax bill, etc. This behavior of mind is called monkey mind because it chatters loudly and jumps around. From what I’ve read, it’s pretty similar to DFN’s activity descriptions.

This prompted me to ask Gemini: « Meditation teachers talk about a ‘monkey mind’, the incessant chattering we notice in our minds when we try to meditate. This seems very similar to the network’s default mode activity. Is this a valid comparison? ». The resulting report is here.

I thought the deep research did an amazing job. The answer is mostly yes, with some caveats. Hyperactive DFN causes restlessness and an inability to relax in all of us, and is even more problematic in conditions like ADHD. And meditation techniques to calm the monkey mind also significantly reduce DFN activity, resulting in a relaxing sensation.

The qualification is that DFN still has utility. From the report: « Evolutionary evidence from nonhuman primates further suggests that the ‘ape mind’ is a biological reality rooted in an evolutionarily conserved ‘sentinel’ and ‘simulative’ system. » It can help us learn from the past and better plan for the future. But « The ‘monkey mind’ only becomes pathological in the modern human context when it ruminates on psychological threats unrelated to survival, leading to chronic stress and unhappiness. » So the idea is not to try to get rid of DFN activity, but to train it and make it a useful assistant: « the chattering monkey can really transform into a focused and calm observer. »

Mindfulness and meditation are key tools for this and I will discuss my research on these in future posts.

Posted by BionicOldGuy

I’m a mechanical engineer, born 1953, PhD, Stanford, 1980. I’ve been active in mechanical CAE for decades. I also have a lifelong interest in outdoor activities and fitness. I had both hips replaced and a heart valve replaced due to a genetic condition. This blog chronicles my adventures in staying active despite these bumps in the road. View all posts by BionicOldGuy

Published
February 14, 2026February 13, 2026