Science
Related: About this forumNeuroscientists have identified how exactly a deep breath changes your mind
Neuroscientists have identified how exactly a deep breath changes your mind
In times of stress, science shows focusing on breathing can really help. (Reuters/Lucy Pemoni)
WRITTEN BY
Moran Cerf
Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University
1 hour ago
Breathing is traditionally thought of as an automatic process driven by the brainstemthe part of the brain controlling such life-sustaining functions as heartbeat and sleeping patterns. But new and unique research, involving recordings made directly from within the brains of humans undergoing neurosurgery, shows that breathing can also change your brain.
Simply put, changes in breathingfor example, breathing at different paces or paying careful attention to the breathswere shown to engage different parts of the brain.
Humans ability to control and regulate their brain is unique: e.g., controlling emotions, deciding to stay awake despite being tired, or suppressing thoughts. These abilities are not trivial, nor do humans share them with many animals. Breathing is similar: animals do not alter their breathing speed volitionally; their breathing normally only changes in response to running, resting, etc. Questions that have baffled scientists in this context are: why are humans capable of volitionally regulating their breathing, and how do we gain access to parts of our brain that are not normally under our conscious control. Additionally, is there any benefit in our ability to access and control parts of our brain that are typically inaccessible? Given that many therapiesCognitive Behavioral Therapy, trauma therapy, or various types of spiritual exercisesinvolve focusing and regulating breathing, does controlling inhaling and exhaling have any profound effect on behavior?
This recent study finally answers these questions by showing that volitionally controlling our respirational, even merely focusing on ones breathing, yield additional access and synchrony between brain areas. This understanding may lead to greater control, focus, calmness, and emotional control.
More:
https://qz.com/1132986/neuroscientists-have-identified-how-exactly-a-deep-breath-changes-your-mind/
lindalou65
(253 posts)Thanks for posting this. An interesting article.
ms liberty
(8,573 posts)blimablam
(121 posts)Dream Girl
(5,111 posts)RandomAccess
(5,210 posts)the yogis with their pranayama.
Actually, this does give possible new insight into those ancient practices.
A few weeks ago I enrolled in a course/program from NeuroGym, which is run by John Assaraff. It's based entirely on neuroscience and consists primarily of lectures, audiotapes to listen to daily that are simply wild, homework, and some other stuff. The first week's audiotape made me into a different person and even changed my handwriting! I was elated. My handwriting had gotten irrepressibly sloppy and nearly unreadable, and by the end of that week it was back to my normal old handwriting for the first time in a couple of years. The program has had a very positive effect on my life overall I think I need to go back and listen to Week 1 some more.