Multimodal Analysis of Acute Neurophysiological Effects of Tibetan BöN Tsa Lung Breathwork: Insights into Autonomic and Cortical Resilience Validated with Wearable Ear-EEG
Daniel Ehrens, A. Stewart, Akshay Paul, T. W. Rinpoche, Jonathan B Berent
International IEEE/EMBS Conference on Neural Engineering November 11, 2025 DOI: 10.1109/ner61569.2025.11589154 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational case study Case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1 |
| Population | Tibetan Bön Rinpoche |
| Intervention | Tsa Lung breathwork |
| Duration | Single session |
| Topics | Breathwork |
| Key findings | A single Tsa Lung session was associated with increased parasympathetic activity and cortical stability during a subsequent Cold Pressor Stress trial. |
Abstract
Traditional breath-centered contemplative practices have been shown to enhance stress resilience through autonomic and cortical mechanisms by increasing parasympathetic tone and modulating neural activity. In this single-session observational case study, we investigated the acute effects of Bön Tsa Lung, a Tibetan breathwork practice, using multimodal recordings; electrocardiography (ECG) and scalp/ear electroencephalography (EEG) to assess heart rate variability (HRV) and neural synchrony. A Tibetan Bön Rinpoche performed the Tsa Lung session between two Cold Pressor Stress (CPS) trials, a validated autonomic challenge. Effects of the Tsa Lung session were inferred from pre- vs postCPS response analysis and contextualized with a small untrained control cohort (n=4) that completed a single CPS trial. ECG-derived heart rate variability (HRV) metrics showed increased high-frequency (HF) power and reduced LF/HF ratio during the post-Tsa Lung CPS trial, consistent with enhanced parasympathetic activity and autonomic resilience. Scalp and ear-EEG showed an increase in alpha power and reduced beta/gamma activity during the post-Tsa Lung CPS trial, suggesting improved cortical stability and stress regulation. This single-case descriptive study supports contemplative breathcentered practices for rapid, measurable neurophysiological modulation, with potential relevance for neural rehabilitation and stress regulation. Clinical Relevance- This observational case of Tsa Lung (Tibetan Bön) breathwork uses multimodal EEG-HRV measures during a standardized stressor (pre/post Cold Pressor Stress) and shows patterns consistent with enhanced autonomic (parasympathetic) and cortical resilience.
Comparable studies
Other case reports and case series on breathwork, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pranayama Meditation (Yoga Breathing) for Stress Relief: Is it Beneficial for Teachers? Teachers | 2017 | Case study | |
| EFFECT OF CYCLIC RAJYOGA MEDITATION AND BHRAMARI PRANAYAMA IN THE MANAGEMENT OF CHITTODWEGA (POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DIS-ORDER): A CASE STUDY 48-year-old woman with psychological disturbances following the traumatic death of her son | 2026 | Case study | n = 1 |
| Controlled Rhythmic Yogic Breathing as Complementary Treatment for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Military Veterans: A Case Series. Military veterans with PTSD | 2017 | Case series | n = 3 |
Citations in the library
Cites 3
- A systematic review of the neurophysiology of mindfulness on EEG oscillations Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews 2015
- Breathing Practices for Stress and Anxiety Reduction: Conceptual Framework of Implementation Guidelines Based on a Systematic Review of the Published Literature Brain Sciences December 22, 2023
- Effect of breathwork on stress and mental health: A meta-analysis of randomised-controlled trials. Scientific Reports January 9, 2023