Neurobiological substrates of altered states of consciousness induced by high ventilation breathwork accompanied by music
Amy Kartar, Toru Horinouchi, Balázs Örzsik, Brittany Anderson, Lottie Hall, Duncan Bailey, Sarah Samuel, Nohra E. Beltran-Vargas, Samira Bouyagoub, Chris Racey, Yoko Nagai, Iris Asllani, Hugo Critchley, Alessandro Colasanti
PLoS One August 27, 2025 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0329411 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Experienced practitioners of high ventilation breathwork |
| Intervention | High ventilation breathwork |
| Topics | Altered states of consciousness Breathwork |
| Keywords | Operculum bryozoa Insula Amygdala |
| Citations | 1 |
| Key findings | The intensity of altered states of consciousness induced by high ventilation breathwork is proportional to cardiovascular sympathetic activation and to haemodynamic changes in the left operculum/posterior insula and right amygdala/anterior hippocampus. |
Abstract
The popularity of breathwork as a therapeutic tool for psychological distress is rapidly expanding. Breathwork practices that increase ventilatory rate or depth, facilitated by music, can evoke subjective experiential states analogous to altered states of consciousness (ASCs) evoked by psychedelic substances. These states include components such as euphoria, bliss, and perceptual differences. However, the neurobiological mechanisms underlying the profound subjective effects of high ventilation breathwork (HVB) remain largely unknown and unexplored. In this study, we investigated the neurobiological substrates of ASCs induced by HVB in experienced practitioners. We demonstrate that the intensity of ASCs evoked by HVB was proportional to cardiovascular sympathetic activation and to haemodynamic alterations in cerebral perfusion within clusters spanning the left operculum/posterior insula and right amygdala/anterior hippocampus; regions implicated in respiratory interoceptive representation and the processing of emotional memories, respectively. These observed regional cerebral effects may underlie pivotal mental experiences that mediate positive therapeutic outcomes of HVB.
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on breathwork, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 4
- An exploratory study of breathwork-induced altered states of consciousness in experienced practitioners: the airways to alteration (A2A) trial Frontiers in Psychology June 10, 2026
- High ventilation breathwork as a non-pharmacological model for inducing psychedelic-like states: expert evaluations of therapeutic potential and risk npj Mental Health Research September 17, 2026
- How high ventilation breathwork alters consciousness: Hypoperfusion, network dynamics, and subjective experience. Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry August 1, 2026
- Fast-Paced Breathwork as a Workplace Microbreak Preserves Attentional Orienting and Neural Task Engagement Research Square July 24, 2026
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