Slow breathing can influence brain activity and decision behavior

Article excerpt

Researchers at German institutions discovered that slowing your breathing, specifically by lengthening the exhale, can rewire how your brain makes decisions. The study found that controlled breathing increases heart rate variability and boosts the brain's sensitivity to rewards, making people more willing to take risks. Led by Prof. Soyoung Q. Park, the team demonstrated this effect by directly linking breathing patterns to measurable changes in both cardiac and neural activity. The finding suggests that something as simple as adjusting your breath could shift decision-making behavior in concrete ways.