Mind Quietness - An Experiment!

[fin]

In the meditation that my mom taught me there is a point where thoughts go away and breath becomes more refined almost as if breath has gone away. maybe your technique mimics or induces that state?

The way you've described mind chatter reminds me of the kind of thing that settles down while in meditation. For me when the noise subsides I transition to something deeper. 

[Stookie_]

So observing and controlling breath can be used as a method of concentrating awareness?

[Rudolph]

The voice you hear in your head spouting seemingly randomness.
Your internal dialogue.

For example, if you read my post in your head.. that's your mind chatter/internal dialogue.

Actually it might be more readily understood when phrased as a more personal thought exercise, e.g. -- if you are hearing your (own) last post in your head, rephrasing it, hearing imagined responses, re-rephrasing again, thinking about dinner, re-rephrasing again etc... *that* is mind chatter.

This breath/mind activity connection was something I noticed maybe 20 years ago after I had been meditating for a few years and at times my breathing would naturally slow way down. I began to notice the interim after exhaling and before starting the next inhale... a definite effect on mental activity.

This is noted clearly in Pranayama practice - the prana & manas (breath & mind) connection;

http://www.yogamag.net/archives/1997/ajan97/pranbran.shtml

The RAS is the trigger for other parts of the brain. Man is able to affect the RAS through the breath only. No other function of the autonomic nervous system can be controlled by conscious human activity. Control of the brain through the RAS by means of conscious breathing is a method by which other functions of the body may be controlled, for example, heart rate, blood pressure, digestion, excretion and absorption. Therefore, control of the subconscious is achieved through conscious activity of prana nigraha and then pranayama (7).

[linemile]

Well, small kitten wearing a frog hat, I too have noticed this before.

I feel almost as if that inhale & hold causes a feeling of "suspense", like in movies, when the character gasps and holds their breath when something dangerous is around the corner. Not really scary at all, though. It always makes me think of 'suspense' though. I just stop thinking, like my brain just waits for what's next. Huh.