It’s evident that how we breathe can affect how we feel – we tend to calm down when we focus on deep breaths and become more anxious when taking shallow ones. However, new research shows that breathing may also play a direct role in remembering things. The study reveals that the rhythm of our breath influences memory formation, which has strong implications for treating brain disorders and mental health challenges.
Scientists in Japan have discovered that specific brain areas, such as the Pre-Bötzinger Complex (PreBötC) in the medulla oblongata, regulate breathing while also interacting with the hippocampus, which is critical for memory. The study found that disrupting the PreBötC in mice impaired their memory ability, suggesting that proper breathing patterns are essential for memory consolidation.
The research highlights how even small changes in our breathing patterns can influence information recall. In their tests, the researchers observed that irregular breathing actually improved memory performance, while slower breathing hindered it. These findings may explain why we may feel “foggy” when stressed or why slow, deep breaths are often recommended in relaxation techniques.
Earlier studies have shown that certain breath transitions (like switching from exhalation to inhalation) can make memory tasks harder for humans. This latest research builds on that idea, pointing to how such breathing patterns might reset brain processes, especially in areas like the temporoparietal junction (TPJ), which plays a role in information processing and memory retrieval.
What does all this mean? The research could pave the way for new therapeutic approaches, especially in managing stress, depression, and neuropsychiatric disorders. By adjusting our breathing consciously, we might be able to improve not just our emotional state, but also our cognitive performance, including memory.
Tags: brain, breathing, hippocampus, lungs, memory, scienceCategorised in: Uncategorized
This post was written by Christine Rizk