Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews
December 1, 2023
Guy W. Fincham, Amy Kartar, Malin V. Uthaug et al.
41 citations
High Ventilation Breathwork (HVB)—volitional manipulation of breathing used historically for psychological distress—produces extraordinary changes in subjective experience and profound effects on central and autonomic nervous systems by modulating neurometabolic parameters and interoceptive sensory systems. Clinical observations and neurophysiological studies indicate these practices may have therapeutic potential for trauma-related, affective, and somatic disorders. The evidence base suggests that the phenomenological effects of HVB can be understood and potentially harnessed through volitional perturbation of psychophysiological state, but further research is needed for detailed mechanistic knowledge and rigorous clinical testing of these potential uses.
August 1, 2023
Guy W. Fincham, Amy Kartar, Malin V. Uthaug et al.
3 citations
preprint
High Ventilation Breathwork (HVB), which involves deliberate manipulation of breathing, has a long history of use for psychological distress. This review examines its potential as a treatment for psychiatric disorders by analyzing its phenomenological and neurophysiological effects. Clinical observations and neurophysiological data show HVB produces extraordinary changes in subjective experience and profoundly affects central and autonomic nervous system functions by modulating neurometabolic parameters and interoceptive sensory systems. These effects may guide understanding and harnessing of HVB's volitional perturbation of psychophysiological states. Reports of beneficial effects for trauma-related, affective, and somatic disorders warrant further mechanistic research and rigorous clinical testing.
Frontiers in Psychology
June 10, 2026
Guy W. Fincham, Edward Caddye, Amy Kartar et al.
A single session of high ventilation breathwork produced larger altered states of consciousness—including mystical experience, emotional breakthrough, and feelings of oneness—than body scan meditation in 24 healthy adults. One week later, breathwork was associated with greater psychological insight and self-reported behavioral change. Both groups showed improvements in stress, anxiety, depression, and well-being over time. These preliminary findings suggest breathwork can induce psychedelic-like effects and support further confirmatory research.
OBM Integrative and Complementary Medicine
January 22, 2026
Edward Caddye, Yuliia Lukianstseva, Richard Aceves et al.
Movement-informed Breathwork (MiB) combines conscious connected breathwork with targeted muscle contraction and relaxation cycles, using biofeedback to enhance autonomic regulation, interoceptive awareness, and somatic-emotional integration. Drawing from neuromuscular torque chain dynamics, fascial research, and sensorimotor trauma therapy, MiB aims to provide a contraindication-free, scalable approach for addressing autonomic dysregulation, emotional trauma, and chronic pain. Sessions range from brief 5-10-minute practices for awareness and downregulation to extended 90-minute sessions for deeper somatic exploration. The approach integrates contemporary neuroscience with traditional breathwork to potentially improve precision and effectiveness of movement-based therapeutic interventions, bridging breathwork, movement therapy, and clinical practice across diverse populations.
Scientific Reports
December 13, 2023
Guy W. Fincham, Clara Strauss, Kate Cavanagh
A large randomized trial assigned 400 participants to either coherent breathing at about 5.5 breaths per minute or a matched attention-placebo at 12 breaths per minute, practiced for about 10 minutes daily over 4 weeks. Both groups showed similar improvements in stress, anxiety, depression, and wellbeing from baseline to post-intervention and at a 1-month follow-up, but there was no significant difference between the two breathing techniques. The results indicate that coherent breathing does not provide added benefit over a well-designed placebo breathing exercise for mental health and wellbeing.
Mindfulness
April 12, 2023
Guy W. Fincham, Kenneth I. Mavor, B. Dritschel
Over two weeks, daily mindfulness meditation—whether brief (10 minutes) or longer (30 minutes), and whether sitting or movement-based—improved well-being and mindfulness and reduced psychological distress in a healthy community sample. However, there were no meaningful differences in these benefits between any of the four conditions, suggesting that neither the dose nor the type of meditation mattered for the outcomes. Movement meditations had a higher dropout rate than sitting meditations, regardless of duration, indicating they may be harder to sustain in self-guided programs.