Effect of transcendental meditation on breathing and respiratory control
Journal of Applied Physiology March 1, 1984 N. Wolkove, H. Kreisman, D. Darragh et al.
Transcendental meditation reduces breathing rate and the response to carbon dioxide. Experienced meditators showed a significant decrease in minute ventilation during meditation, from 14.0 to 12.4 liters per minute, due to a shorter inspiratory time and smaller tidal volume. Their breathing response to rising carbon dioxide levels also dropped, from 3.7 to 2.5 liters per minute per Torr. Control subjects showed no such changes. These findings indicate that a subtle shift in wakefulness, distinct from sleep, can alter the chemical and neural control of breathing.