Effects of Short-Term Breathwork on Respiration and Cognition

Even one minute of structured breathing can temporarily improve reaction times on a subsequent cognitive task, though it does not change accuracy. In two experiments, participants performed slow or fast breathing, or manipulated their inhalation-exhalation ratio, before a visual emotion discrimination task. Each breathing technique produced distinct, short-lived changes in respiratory patterns after the practice ended. While emotion discrimination accuracy and reaction times did not differ between breathing techniques, all practices led to a brief speeding of responses compared to baseline. This suggests that brief, voluntary control of respiration can transiently enhance attentional or sensorimotor readiness.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Respiration is a unique physiological process that can operate automatically but can also be deliberately used to modulate the bodily state. Importantly, respiration is deeply intertwined with neural processes, influencing processes from arousal and attention to executive control. Although structured respiration (breathing practice) has been exploited for centuries, the immediate consequences of short periods of structured respiration for sensation and cognition remain poorly understood. The present study examined how brief, one-minute episodes of structured respiration affect respiration and performance in a subsequent sensory-cognitive task. Across two experiments, participants engaged in structured breathing practices manipulating either respiratory frequency (slow breathing vs. fast breathing) or the inhalation-exhalation ratio (short inspiration-long expiration; long inspiration-short expiration) prior to performing a visual emotion discrimination task. Immediately after breathing practice, participant’s respiration deviated from their baseline: each technique resulted in specific deviations of respiratory frequency, inhalation-exhalation ratio, or the occurrence of atypical respiratory cycles, suggesting technique-specific returns to regular respiration. During the subsequent emotion response accuracy or reaction times did not differ between breathing practices. However, we observed transient improvements in reaction times immediately following all practices, suggesting a brief facilitation of attentional or sensorimotor responsiveness following conscious breathing. Our findings indicate that even brief, consciously controlled respiration can transiently influence cognitive performance, highlighting the role of voluntary respiratory modulation in shaping brain function and behavior.