<p>The Neurons become refractory which means that they can't fire again until time has passed. Look up Action Potential and the limits of firing rating.
There is also a competition for different circuits to become conscious so when one becomes tried the other takes over. This is why it is hard to continue to think about one thing, without soon considering something else.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-01-06T13:49:00.973Z
Hi and welcome to Psychology & Neuroscience Stack Exchange. I think you have the beginning of a good answer, but I wonder if you could improve it by specifying what "again until time has passed" means (how much time approximately) and replacing "Look up Action Potential and ..." with a few concrete references? Thanks in advance!
Tsundoku
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-01-06T17:43:43.383Z
@Tsundoku is right. If not, this answer will likely be turned into a comment. Thank you for your contribution!
Steven Jeuris
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-01-06T18:47:17.453Z
I am highly doubtful that firing rates or competition for consciousness limit attention.  Without references to back up these claims, I believe this answer is false.
Arnon Weinberg
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-01-06T20:02:49.037Z
Welcome. To be frank, this coupling of micro-scale cellular physiology to macro-scale higher-level brain functions is far fetched, oversimplified and incorrect.
AliceD
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-01-06T13:46:36.520Z
2021-01-06T13:46:36.520Z
user27607
<p>What happens inside the brain when we concentrate (meditate), and why does a person find it difficult to continuously concentrate for a long time? That is, why does one need a break after working or studying for a given time, or why do we lose our concentration after a certain time?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-01-07T10:41:28.350Z
I think this question is too broad to answer within a reasonable scope. I count 4 sub questions squeezed in two lines. Adding prior research effort is a great way to give background and focus to your question. What did you try so far to find an answer to your questions? Can you narrow the post down to a single focused question?
AliceD
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-01-07T22:27:45.927Z
See also [what happens to brain during meditation](https://psychology.stackexchange.com/questions/12606/what-happens-to-brain-during-meditation), --- [what is the effect of mindfulness practice on cognition](https://psychology.stackexchange.com/questions/3351/what-is-the-effect-of-mindfulness-practice-on-cognition), --- [what is attention in terms of brain activity](https://psychology.stackexchange.com/questions/10390/what-is-attention-in-terms-of-brain-activity).
Michael
<cognitive-psychology><cognitive-neuroscience><brain><philosophy-of-mind><concentration>
What happens inside the brain when we concentrate?
randomUser
# What happens inside the brain when we concentrate?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-08-31)

What happens inside the brain when we concentrate (meditate), and why does a person find it difficult to continuously concentrate for a long time? That is, why does one need a break after working or studying for a given time, or why do we lose our concentration after a certain time?

**Tags:** cognitive-psychology, cognitive-neuroscience, brain, philosophy-of-mind, concentration

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: I think this question is too broad to answer within a reasonable scope. I count 4 sub questions squeezed in two lines. Adding prior research effort is a great way to give background and focus to your question. What did you try so far to find an answer to your questions? Can you narrow the post down to a single focused question?  
> **username_2**: See also [what happens to brain during meditation](https://psychology.stackexchange.com/questions/12606/what-happens-to-brain-during-meditation), --- [what is the effect of mindfulness practice on cognition](https://psychology.stackexchange.com/questions/3351/what-is-the-effect-of-mindfulness-practice-on-cognition), --- [what is attention in terms of brain activity](https://psychology.stackexchange.com/questions/10390/what-is-attention-in-terms-of-brain-activity).  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2021-01-06. Score: -2

The Neurons become refractory which means that they can't fire again until time has passed. Look up Action Potential and the limits of firing rating.
There is also a competition for different circuits to become conscious so when one becomes tried the other takes over. This is why it is hard to continue to think about one thing, without soon considering something else.

> **Comments:**
> **username_4**: Hi and welcome to Psychology & Neuroscience Stack Exchange. I think you have the beginning of a good answer, but I wonder if you could improve it by specifying what "again until time has passed" means (how much time approximately) and replacing "Look up Action Potential and ..." with a few concrete references? Thanks in advance!  
> **username_5**: @username_4 is right. If not, this answer will likely be turned into a comment. Thank you for your contribution!  
> **username_6**: I am highly doubtful that firing rates or competition for consciousness limit attention.  Without references to back up these claims, I believe this answer is false.  
> **username_1**: Welcome. To be frank, this coupling of micro-scale cellular physiology to macro-scale higher-level brain functions is far fetched, oversimplified and incorrect.  

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