High ventilation breathwork practices: An overview of their effects, mechanisms, and considerations for clinical applications

Breathwork-Induced Psychedelic Experiences Modulate Neural Dynamics

“…Relating these findings to the physiology of breathwork, some researchers have theorised that hypoxia and alkalosis induced through ‘high-ventilation’ breathwork practices may cause a shift towards excitability in the excitation/inhibition (E/I) balance (Fincham et al, 2023a), due to the disinhibition of GABAergic inhibitory cortical circuits (Sun et al, 2012; Li et al, 2012). A flattening of the PSD has been ascribed as a marker of a neurophysiological shift towards excitability (Donoghue et al, 2021; Gao et al, 2017), demonstrating that the results in the present study support the aforementioned hypothesis with regards to E/I balance.…”

“…Despite its rich history within Eastern spirituality, the investigation of high-ventilation breathwork practices, where an individual increases their respiratory rate, is in its infancy within contemporary science (Fincham et al, 2023a), with very few studies exploring the neural underpinnings of the practice. Moreover, much like meditation as a broad taxonomic term (Tang et al, 2015; Lutz et al, 2008), breathwork constitutes a plethora of practices, each with their own distinct phenomenological and physiological profiles and goals (see Fincham et al, 2023a for a review). SOMA breathwork, used within this study, is similar to the Wim Hof method (Kox et al, 2012; 2014), in that it utilises a continuous and standardised breathing pattern in combination with breath retentions to induce a hypoxic state.…”

“…Additionally, we explored the relationship between the aperiodic exponent and phenomenology. We intended to investigate the aperiodic exponent as psychedelics have a demonstrable impact at the broadband level (Muthukumaraswamy et al, 2013), and measuring the aperiodic exponent may tap in to physiological mechanisms that may be associated with breathwork (such as excitation/inhibition balance; Gao et al, 2017; Fincham et al, 2023a).…”

“…Briefly, the breathwork practice within this study involves cyclic hyperventilation in combination with breath retentions in order to induce a hypoxic state (Kox et al, 2014; see Methods for further explanation). Breathwork was investigated as it is a non-pharmacological way to induce an ASC, with purported phenomenological similarities to serotonergic psychedelics such as LSD and psilocybin (Puente et al, 2014; Bahi et al, 2023; Rock et al, 2015; Fincham et al, 2023a). EEG and accelerometer data were collected through low-density portable EEG devices (Arnal et al, 2020).…”

Decreased CO2 saturation during circular breathwork supports emergence of altered states of consciousness

“…Circular breathwork is a breathing technique rooted in traditional practices like Tummo and Pranayama Yoga, and subsequently adapted by a multitude of inter-related traditions like, Holotropic Breathwork®, Consciously-Connected, Holorenic and Transformational Breathwork, as well as Rebirthing and others (Fincham, Kartar, et al, 2023). All these traditions have in common that over a prolonged period of time (approx.…”