Zen I believe is about meditation where thoughts quiet down and you experience the moment. When you do, it means your brain gets rest because it is not "chasing thoughts". And that means when you stop the mediation you brain is well-rested and can work better because it can focus much better, the runaway thoughts are not leading it astray continually. That means your brain, and you, can accomplish more.
It is probably true that many Western zenists have figured this out and use meditation for that purpose. Think about star-wars, the "force" is about being able ro lift a rocket-sdhip with the power of your concentration. That's the myth.
Whereas I believe when you achieve a zen-like state of mind it becomes less important to you whether you can lift the rocket-ship or not. In the Eastern tradition Zen is it own goal.
Is this something like what you meant?