The neuroscience of inner calm: neurophysiological mechanisms of conscious breathing and mindful attention in emotional regulation
Tatiana Verdeș
Valorificarea neuroştiinţelor în dezvoltarea personală: Materialele Conferinţei Ştiinţifice Internaţionale, 7-8 noiembrie 2025 2025 DOI: 10.46727/c.07-08-11-2025.p482-490 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Interventions | conscious breathing (slow breathing) mindfulness |
| Topics | Breathwork |
| Key findings | Conscious breathing and mindfulness facilitate inner calm via a bidirectional feedback loop involving the vagus nerve, parasympathetic nervous system, and prefrontal cortex, and the authors propose the Rapid Emotional Decoupling (RED) model and Social Interoceptive Mindfulness (SIM) as real-time intervention protocols. |
Abstract
Effective emotional regulation is essential for mental health and overall wellbeing. This article examines the neurophysiological mechanisms through which two accessible psychological practices—conscious breathing (slow breathing) and mindfulness—facilitate the attainment of inner calm. Through synthesis of the specialized literature, we demonstrate that these practices operate via a bidirectional feedback loop, integrating bottom-up processes mediated by the vagus nerve and parasympathetic nervous system with top-down processes mediated by the prefrontal cortex. The innovative element of this research lies in proposing a Rapid Emotional Decoupling (RED) model and the concept of Social Interoceptive Mindfulness (SIM), which transform neurophysiological principles into real-time applicable intervention protocols in conflict contexts. The article emphasizes the relevance of these findings for psychological interventions that do not require complex equipment, providing a solid scientific foundation for their use in clinical and personal settings.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on breathwork, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coupling of respiration and attention via the locus coeruleus: Effects of meditation and pranayama | 2018 | Review with original findings | |
| High ventilation breathwork practices: An overview of their effects, mechanisms, and considerations for clinical applications. | 2023 | Review | |
| Breathwork in body psychotherapy: Towards a more unified theory and practice | 2011 | Review | |
| A Practitioner’s Guide to Breathwork in Clinical Mental Health Counseling | 2020 | Review | |
| Bhramari Pranayama as an aid to meditation: A review of classical yoga texts | 2020 | Review |