Breath’s subtle signals reveal brain activity
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Scientists at UC San Diego and collaborating institutions discovered that electrical signals in the brain track the shape of each breath on a millisecond basis.
Researchers led by Eena Kosik-Rose and Bradley Voytek combined cognitive science with data science to examine how the brain processes breathing. They analyzed the airflow patterns of patients undergoing monitoring for treatment-resistant epilepsy, finding that brain activity mirrored the specific characteristics of each inhalation and exhalation, not just the rate.
The team measured features beyond simple breath counts, noting the asymmetry of breaths, where inhalation is typically faster than exhalation, and even random pauses or irregular patterns. This detailed analysis revealed that the brain doesn’t just register that a breath is happening, but how it’s happening. Voytek explained that this supports the idea that humans are “embodied” beings, meaning that our physical bodies significantly impact our cognitive processes.
This research builds on ancient philosophical and linguistic connections between breath and thought, with terms for breath historically encompassing concepts of life force and inspiration. The scientists hope to extend this work to understand how breathing patterns might relate to neurological disorders like Alzheimer’s disease and to potentially predict dangerous breathing pauses in epilepsy patients.
They suggest that by moving beyond simple measurements like breaths per minute, they can gain a richer understanding of the intricate relationship between the body and the mind.
