The pruning in the occipital lobe, at the back of the brain, tapers off by age 20.

When his brain swelled, the portion of his cerebellum that was herniating through the foramen magnum became compressed and presented with sever occipital headaches.

Chavez’s occipital quadrant, which processes visual stimuli, was highly active during these light-filled sessions, even though the artist was meditating with her eyes closed.