The Effect of Breath Pacing on Task Switching and Working Memory

Abstract

The cortical and subcortical circuit regulating both cognition and cardiac autonomic interactions are already well established. This circuit has mainly been analyzed from cortex to heart. Thus, the heart rate variability (HRV) is usually considered a reflection of cortical activity. In this paper, we investigate whether HRV changes affect cortical activity. Short-term local autonomic changes were induced by three breathing strategies: spontaneous (Control), normal (NB) and slow paced breathing (SB). We measured the performance in two cognition domains: executive functions and processing speed. Breathing maneuvres produced three clearly differentiated autonomic states, which preconditioned the cognitive tasks. We found that the SB significantly increased the HRV low frequency (LF) power and lowered the power spectral density (PSD) peak to 0.1[Formula: see text]Hz. Meanwhile, executive function was assessed by the working memory test, whose accuracy significantly improved after SB, with no significant changes in the response times. Processing speed was assessed by a multitasking test. Consistently, the proportion of correct answers (success rate) was the only dependent variable affected by short-term and long-term breath pacing. These findings suggest that accuracy, and not timing of these two cognitive domains would benefit from short-term SB in this study population.

The Influence of Slow-Paced Breathing on Executive Function

“…This is based on the coupling of heart beat and respiration with the respiratory sinus arrhythmia, where inhalation is linked to faster HR, and exhalation to slower HR (Angelone & Coulter, 1964; Yasuma & Hayano, 2004). Our findings illustrate that the increase in RMSSD, and hence in cardiac vagal activity, can be seen mostly during slow-paced breathing but not necessarily after, as suggested elsewhere (Bonomini et al, 2020; Kromenacker et al, 2018; You et al, 2021).…”

“…Decision making does not belong to the core executive functions but is considered a higherorder executive function that relies on core executive functions (Diamond, 2013). Overall, accuracy in inhibition (Laborde, Lentes, et al, 2019), working memory (Bonomini et al, 2020;Prinsloo et al, 2011), and decision making (De Couck et al, 2019) was found to be improved, while no influence was found on inhibition in Prinsloo et al (2011). Processing speed remained unchanged (Bonomini et al, 2020;Laborde, Lentes, et al, 2019).…”

“…Although the influence of diverse breathing techniques on cognition has been considered in previous research (Gothe et al, 2013; Shannahoff-Khalsa et al, 1991; Yadav & Mutha, 2016), the influence of slow-paced breathing on executive functioning has received little attention to date. So far, the focus has been on inhibition (Laborde, Lentes, et al, 2019; Prinsloo et al, 2011), working memory (Bonomini et al, 2020; Prinsloo et al, 2011), cognitive flexibility (Bonomini et al, 2020), and decision making (De Couck et al, 2019). Decision making does not belong to the core executive functions but is considered a higher-order executive function that relies on core executive functions (Diamond, 2013).…”

“…Overall, accuracy in inhibition (Laborde, Lentes, et al, 2019), working memory (Bonomini et al, 2020;Prinsloo et al, 2011), and decision making (De Couck et al, 2019) was found to be improved, while no influence was found on inhibition in Prinsloo et al (2011). Processing speed remained unchanged (Bonomini et al, 2020;Laborde, Lentes, et al, 2019). Overall, research investigating the effects of slow-paced breathing on the three core executive functions is limited (with available studies characterized by some methodological shortcomings, such as the absence of an appropriate marker for cardiac vagal activity (De Couck et al, 2019;Prinsloo et al, 2011), unclear duration and/or characteristics of slow-paced breathing (Bonomini et al, 2020;De Couck et al, 2019), missing solid theoretical background (De Couck et al, 2019;Prinsloo et al, 2011), or investigated the relationship between slow-paced breathing and executive function after physical exercise (Laborde, Lentes, et al, 2019).…”

Combined effect of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation and 0.1 Hz slow-paced breathing on working memory

“…Moreover, slow and rhythmic breath-based meditation (e.g., Sudarshan Kriya) has shown significant effects on reducing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, hyperarousal, and anxiety in United States military combat veterans ( Seppala et al, 2014 ; Schulz-Heik et al, 2022 ), and breath-based mindfulness has been shown to have a positive influence on participants’ cognitive performance—especially WM performance ( Mrazek et al, 2012 ; Quach et al, 2016 ). Even a simple slow breathing intervention can improve participants’ heart rate variability (HRV) and multitasking test performance ( Bonomini et al, 2020 ). Taken together, this evidence suggests that slow rhythmic breathing has the potential to restore or improve cognitive function.…”