← Back to all articles The Breathing 411

Common Breath Currency, 3 of the Best, and an Overlooked Exercise

Published December 9, 2024

Reading Time: 1 min 48 sec

I hope the next 22’ish breaths are the most nourishing of your day.

4 THOUGHTS

1. The “Common Currency” of Breath, Brain, and Mind

“The synchronization between respiration and slow neural activity is likely key to understanding the brain-physiology relationship. Higher degrees of coupling between respiration and brain activity likely manifest as the inverse of symptoms of panic disorder (e.g., relaxation, greater attention, and more measured thoughts). Slow rhythms thus provide a link and shared feature of respiration, neural, and mental activity serving as their ‘common currency’.

From Lung to Brain (2023)

How neat? Speed acts as a “common currency” that the breath, brain, and mind accept. This means when we slow our breathing, the brain and mind accept that as payment and slow down in return. The result is relaxation, better attention, and calmer thoughts 👏

***

P.S. If you love science like this but don’t have time to read all day, let me do it for you 👨‍🏫. In the Breath Learning Center, I provide clear and succinct summaries of significant studies like this one. Sign up today.

The Anxious Person’s Breath Manual

Want a complete research-based breathing system for anxiety? The Anxious Person’s Breath Manual synthesizes 454 studies into one practical guide.

Get the Manual for $27

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

The Breathing 411

Get the Free Weekly Newsletter

Weekly breath science, wisdom, and practical tools.