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Article

Decreased CO[2] saturation during circular breathwork supports
emergence of altered states of consciousness

Martha Havenith, Max Leidenberger, Jelena Brasanac, Mafalda Corvacho,
and 11 more

This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal.

https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-3976380/v1

This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License

Status:

Under Review

Nature Portfolio

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Abstract

Altered states of consciousness (ASCs), induced e.g. by psychedelics,
show great potential to treat widespread mental health disorders like
depression and PTSD. However, access to such treatments is restricted
by legal, medical, and financial barriers. Here, we explore the
potential of circular breathwork to serve as an accessible,
non-pharmacological alternative to engage similar therapeutic
processes. Scientific studies investigating the mental health effects
of breathwork are only just emerging and the underlying physiological
and psychological mechanisms are largely unknown. In this study, we
address these questions by tracking physiological and experiential
dynamics throughout a breathwork session, comparing two popular forms
of breathwork: Holotropic Breathwork^(r) and Consciously-Connected
breathwork. We show that a reduction in end-tidal CO2 pressure due to
deliberate hyperventilation is instrumental in catalyzing ASCs during
breathwork. ASCs evoked by breathwork were comparable to those
produced by psychedelics, and their depth predicted psychological and
physiological follow-on effects, including improved well-being and a
reduction of depressive symptoms. Moreover, different breathwork
formats produced highly similar physiological, experiential and
psychological outcomes. These results outline physiological boundary
conditions for ASCs to arise in a non-pharmacological context,
shedding light on the functional mechanisms of breathwork as well as
its potential as a psychotherapeutic tool.

Biological sciences/Neuroscience/Cognitive neuroscience/Consciousness

Social science/Psychology/Human behaviour

Biological sciences/Psychology/Human behaviour

Full Text

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There is NO Competing Interest.

Supplementary Files

  * 202402BreathworkCO2SuppMaterials.pdf

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Status:

Under Review

Nature Portfolio

Version 1

posted

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