Researchers found that extending the exhalation phase of breathing can alter heart rate variability and increase brain responsiveness to rewards, leading to riskier choices.
Key facts
- •The study involved 41 healthy participants who followed a 2:8 inhale-exhale breathing ratio.
- •Extended exhalation was linked to increased activity in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex and the precuneus.
- •The findings suggest that physical states, such as heart rate variability, directly influence cognitive processes.
- •Researchers propose that breath regulation could help manage eating behavior by altering reward assessment.
- •The study was led by Prof. Soyoung Q Park and published in the journal Neuron.
A study published in Neuron suggests that consciously slowing breathing and extending exhalations can influence decision-making. Researchers from the German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbruecke and Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin found that this breathing pattern increases heart rate variability and makes the brain more receptive to potential rewards, which is associated with bolder, riskier choices.
Study Methodology and Findings
The research team studied 41 healthy participants who performed risk-related tasks while following visual instructions to breathe at either a normal pace or a slower pace with a 2:8 inhale-exhale ratio. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging and physiological monitoring, researchers tracked brain activity, heart rate, skin conductance, and pupil responses. The results indicated that extended exhalation slowed the heart rate and led to riskier decision-making. This shift was driven by an increased focus on potential rewards rather than a decreased concern for losses, with participants showing stronger activity in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex and the precuneus.
Potential Applications
Because controlled breathing is simple and inexpensive, researchers suggest it could serve as a tool for self-regulation or as a non-pharmacological approach in clinical settings for conditions like anxiety or depression. Future research will explore whether these techniques can influence food-related decisions and how they affect broader clinical populations, including individuals with overweight.
Advertisement
This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by ScienceDaily.
