Health · Medical Research · 2 hrs ago
Intensive breathwork linked to changes in brain blood flow and communication
Researchers studied 30 healthy people experienced in intensive breathwork while they breathed rapidly during MRI scans.
The sessions were linked to an average 45% drop in blood flow across the brain.
Participants also described changes in perception and their sense of self, including a deep feeling of connection.
Those reporting stronger experiences showed greater changes in the brain's default mode network, which is involved in self-reflection.
The findings suggest that changes in communication within this network may help explain the experiences, rather than reduced blood flow alone.
The study was small and included only experienced practitioners, so it does not show whether the effects apply to beginners or can help treat mental health conditions.
Researchers say larger studies are needed to test the findings and determine whether they have clinical relevance.
A brain-imaging study found that intensive breathwork reduced participants’ brain blood flow by an average of about 45% and altered communication between brain networks.
The study involved 30 healthy, experienced breathwork practitioners who performed high-ventilation breathing during MRI scans.
Participants reported altered states of consciousness, including changes in perception and self-experience.
Stronger reported experiences were associated with greater changes in the default mode network, which is involved in self-reflection.
Researchers said the findings are preliminary and that larger studies are needed to establish their clinical relevance.
- Who
- 30 healthy, experienced breathwork practitioners took part in the study.
- What
- Researchers found reduced brain blood flow and changes in communication between brain networks during intensive breathwork.
- When
- The work was presented at the ECNP Congress; the article was published on 2026-10-12.
- Where
- Participants were scanned during breathwork; the work was presented at the ECNP Congress in Munich.
- Why
- Researchers studied the brain mechanisms linked to altered states reported during intensive breathwork.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Many people who practice intensive breathwork report profound changes in perception and self-experience, yet the underlying brain mechanisms remain poorly understood.
Breathwork is a legal, inexpensive and non-pharmacological intervention that may provide a valuable tool for studying altered states of consciousness.
This study is intriguing as it is starting to extend findings from recent breathwork research that intensive breathing practices may yield altered states of consciousness which individuals describe in ways analogous to psychedelic compounds, and under brain-imaging conditions.
Breathwork is a non-pharmacological bridge to our research into psychedelics, so research which helps us understand how it functions is welcome
30 experienced practitioners performed high-ventilation breathwork while researchers measured their brains.
Researchers presented the study.
News-Medical published its report on the findings.
- Participants
- 30 healthy, experienced breathwork practitioners
- Brain blood flow
- Fell by around 45% on average, from 16.24 to 9.81 ml/100g/min
- Brain network
- Stronger reported altered states were associated with greater changes in the default mode network
- Study setting
- High-ventilation breathwork during MRI scanning
- Presentation
- ECNP Congress in Munich
Sources
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