Breathing to inspire and arouse
Science March 31, 2017 S. Sheikhbahaei, Jeffrey C. Smith
A commentary highlights a study identifying a small population of about 350 molecularly distinct neurons in the mouse brainstem that connects breathing behavior to brain arousal. These neurons form a circuit transmitting respiratory information to noradrenergic neurons in the locus coeruleus, thereby influencing arousal state. The finding offers insight into how the motor act of breathing can affect higher-order brain functions, with implications for understanding conscious breathing practices in yoga, meditation, or psychotherapy that modulate emotion, arousal, or stress.