A recent study indicates that slow breathing with a prolonged exhale can influence decision-making by altering heart activity and increasing the brain's sensitivity to rewards. Researchers from the German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbruecke (DIfE) and Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin found that this breathing pattern made individuals more willing to take risks. The findings suggest that conscious breath control can directly affect how choices are evaluated.
Traditionally, decision-making has been considered a brain-centric process. This research explored how signals from other body parts might influence brain activity and subsequent choices. The study involved 41 healthy participants. They made risky decisions under controlled breathing conditions.
Participants either breathed at their normal pace or slowed their breathing with an extended exhalation phase. This extended exhalation used a two-to-eight inhale-exhale ratio. The research team monitored brain activity using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). They also tracked breathing patterns, heart activity, skin conductance, and pupil responses.
The results showed that extended exhalation slowed heart rate. It also correlated with riskier choices. This change appeared to stem from a greater focus on potential rewards, not a reduced concern for losses. Participants' responses to losses remained consistent. Stronger activity was observed in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex and the precuneus. These brain regions are involved in reward processing and regulating heart rate variability.
This work supports neurovisceral models, which propose that a person's physical state can significantly shape cognitive processes. Because controlled breathing is simple and inexpensive, it could serve as a tool for daily self-regulation. It may also offer a non-pharmacological approach in clinical settings, particularly for conditions like anxiety or depression.
Future studies will examine these effects in broader clinical populations, including individuals with overweight. Researchers are also interested in whether breathing techniques could influence food-related decisions. Eating behavior is strongly affected by both reward processing and physical state.
Related stories
Dreaming May Deplete Brain Energy Despite Increased Fuel Supply
New research indicates that dreaming during REM sleep may consume significant brain energy, with neuronal energy levels dropping despite an increase in the brain's fuel supply.
Tirzepatide May Activate Calorie-Burning Brown Fat
A mouse study suggests tirzepatide, sold as Mounjaro and Zepbound, may activate calorie-burning brown fat, offering a new understanding of its metabolic benefits.
ADHD and Autism Diagnoses Show Shifting Demographics in Denmark
A large Danish study found that children diagnosed with ADHD or autism now more closely resemble the general population, suggesting broader identification rather than only an increase in underlying conditions.