The hidden power behind taking a deep breath discovered by Researchers at Brighton and Sussex Medical School

A Sussex-led study has revealed how breathwork can trigger psychedelic states.

Researchers at Brighton and Sussex Medical School found that the effect stems from changes in brain function.

The results, published in PLOS ONE, could inform future treatments for depression and anxiety.

The research team at The Colasanti Lab at BSMS and comprising collaborators from institutions in the UK, Japan, the Netherlands, and the US, investigated how HVB affects brain blood flow and autonomic nervous system responses in experienced breathwork practitioners. Using advanced neuroimaging and psychophysiological monitoring, the study revealed that the intensity of ASCs – particularly the phenomenon known as “Oceanic Boundlessness” (OBN) – was linked to changes in cerebral blood flow and heart rate variability.

Key findings:

• HVB reliably induced ASCs across three experimental settings: remote (online), laboratory, and MRI environments.
• The most prominent ASC reported was Oceanic Boundlessness, associated with feelings of unity, bliss, and spiritual insight.
• Neuroimaging showed that the intensity of Oceanic Boundlessness correlated with reduced blood flow in the left posterior insula and parietal operculum, regions involved in interoception and self-awareness and with Increased blood flow in the right amygdala and anterior hippocampus, regions involved in emotional memory processing
• Heart rate variability decreased during HVB, reflecting heightened sympathetic nervous system activity, yet participants reported reduced fear and negative affect.

Amy Kartar, lead author and Clinical and Neuroimaging Research Assistant at BSMS, commented: "Our findings suggest that HVB can safely and consistently evoke deeply transformative mental states. These experiences appear to result from the powerful neuromodulating effects of   breathwork on brain regions involved in emotional memory and bodily self-awareness, which may explain the therapeutic potential of breathwork practices."

The study also highlights the importance of “set and setting” – a concept well-established in psychedelic research – in shaping the breathwork experience.

Participants in the lab setting reported higher OBN scores than those in MRI or remote sessions, underscoring the role of environment and interpersonal presence.

Implications for mental health therapies

With growing interest in non-pharmacological approaches to mental health, HVB offers a promising avenue for therapeutic intervention. The study’s insights into the powerful neuromodulatory mechanisms of breathwork could inform future treatments for conditions such as depression, PTSD, and anxiety.

The study was conducted at BSMS by an international team of researchers from BSMS, Hokkaido University Hospital, Leiden University Medical Centre, University of Wisconsin–Madison, and Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.

Read the study ‘Neurobiological Substrates of Altered States of Consciousness Induced by High Ventilation Breathwork Accompanied by Music’ in full here.