Ancient Breathwork Meets Modern Neuroscience, Offering Psychedelic Therapy Without Substances, Study Finds

Researchers from the Department of Clinical Neuroscience at Brighton and Sussex Medical School investigated how fast, deep breathing performed rhythmically to music can affect both subjective experiences and brain physiology. The Study The study included 42 participants across three categories: 15 who practiced breathwork remotely, 8 in a laboratory setting, and 19 inside an MRI scanner. Each participant completed a 20- to 30-minute session of cyclic breathing with no pauses while listening to music. Afterward, they completed questionnaires about their emotional and psychological state. Results showed that HVB consistently induced ASCs, often described as “oceanic boundlessness” (OBN)—a term referring to...