At the University of Pennsylvania, researchers have found a strong connection between behavior and breathing in neurons associated with the olfactory system. These connections may explain why practices such as meditation and yoga that rely on rhythmic breathing can help people overcome anxiety-based illnesses.
"We wanted to know why and how fear behavior, controlled breathing, and smell centers of the brain were connected," said University of Pennsylvania neuroscientist Minghong Ma. "What really drives our interest is finding out what we can extrapolate about this relationship to learn about the evolution of behavior and apply this knowledge to help ease the pain associated with such disorders as post-traumatic stress disorder."
Researchers are asking, how do we breathe differently in different emotional situations? A mouse in the wild, for example, will respond to danger by freezing its motion and slowing down its breathing as a survival instinct. Humans have similar physiological responses and researchers are finding out what breathing patterns are most effective in influencing human brain activity and emotional states.
Source: University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Artwork: just Breathe poster
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