Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Slow breathing modulates brain function and risk behavior

cell.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

31–40 of 122 posts

Re: Slow breathing modulates brain function and risk behavior

#31

Post by rpozarickij »

RossBencina wrote: post #5
ansk wrote: post #3

I've found breathing exercises to be effective for the duration of the exercise, but I'm more interested in the possibility of training myself to adjust my respiration patterns over sustained durations. Would it be beneficial -- or even possible at all -- to adjust my body's default/subconscious breathing patterns to match those mentioned in the article? Tangentially related, are there any wearable devices that allow…

I have read that skilled mindfulness practitioners maintain constant awareness of their breathing pattern throughout all other waking activities. Something to aspire to perhaps.

There's also a level above that, where you're aware of what is aware. I find this mental state to be even more calming/grounding than being aware of breathing but I'm not always able to shift myself into it. Being aware of breathing feels much easier/natural to me whenever I'm able to remind myself of it, which already provides quite a noticeable effect on how I'm feeling and reacting to whatever is happening in that moment.

Additionally, there's a practice called "walking meditation" [0] that can also be useful to practice this area of skills.

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walking_meditation

Re: Slow breathing modulates brain function and risk behavior

#32

Post by N_Lens »

NopIdoN wrote: post #9
RossBencina wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have read that skilled mindfulness practitioners maintain constant awareness of their breathing pattern throughout all other waking activities. Something to aspire to perhaps.

Sounds like hell. Remember to blink!

It usually becomes very pleasant, euphoric, and self sustaining, if done correctly.

Re: Slow breathing modulates brain function and risk behavior

#34

Post by lukan »

thisoneisreal wrote: post #8
cryzinger wrote: post #4

Parasympathetic nervous activation increased risk-taking behavior? That's interesting/unexpected (at least to me). Also, this part caught my eye: > The selective impact of prolonged exhalation breathing on reward responsiveness has important implications for clinical contexts, such as anxiety, panic disorder, and depression, given their distinct autonomic signatures and maladaptive reward processing. By enhancing car…

I agree it's counterintuitive, but it makes sense when I think about how, for example, it's the least neurotic people who do high-risk activities like base jumping or mountain climbing. Fear drives you away from threatening things, lack of fear allows you to move toward them more comfortably.

In general yes, I do climbing and I can say I only do it when I feel no fear, no adrenalin rush. When I feel fear I stop, otherwise danger of accident.

But I know a base jumper .. and he only does the jumps if he feels the fear and his kick is to overcome it and feel the adrenalin rush.

Re: Slow breathing modulates brain function and risk behavior

#35

Post by vasco »

galaxyLogic wrote: post #29

But fear is often good. Breathing slow to counter your fear should only be done when you know it is an irrational fear.

Your argument defeats itself.

You say fear is good, presumably because it stops you from doing things you don't know are dangerous.

But then you say you can do a technique to defeat fear when you know the fear is irrational.

But your argument starts from the premise that you don't know a situation is dangerous or not without the fear so how would you know it's irrational?

In my experience it's the opposite, most fear is not useful.

Re: Slow breathing modulates brain function and risk behavior

#36

Post by vasco »

rpozarickij wrote: post #31
RossBencina wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have read that skilled mindfulness practitioners maintain constant awareness of their breathing pattern throughout all other waking activities. Something to aspire to perhaps.

There's also a level above that, where you're aware of what is aware. I find this mental state to be even more calming/grounding than being aware of breathing but I'm not always able to shift myself into it. Being aware of breathing feels much easier/natural to me whenever I'm able to remind myself of it, which already provides quite a noticeable effect on how I'm feeling and reacting to whatever is happening in that…

Finally I understand why meditation hippies kinda seem aloof when you talk to them. Turns out they are trying to multi-task some kind of awarenessmaxxing while speaking to you. The more you know!

I always thought that was part of their weirdness and maybe even some personality trait that led them to this sort of thing, but knowing it's an active choice makes it even weirder somehow.

Re: Slow breathing modulates brain function and risk behavior

#37

Post by herodoturtle »

lukan wrote: post #34
thisoneisreal wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I agree it's counterintuitive, but it makes sense when I think about how, for example, it's the least neurotic people who do high-risk activities like base jumping or mountain climbing. Fear drives you away from threatening things, lack of fear allows you to move toward them more comfortably.

In general yes, I do climbing and I can say I only do it when I feel no fear, no adrenalin rush. When I feel fear I stop, otherwise danger of accident. But I know a base jumper .. and he only does the jumps if he feels the fear and his kick is to overcome it and feel the adrenalin rush.

> But I know a base jumper .. and he only does the jumps if he feels the fear and his kick is to overcome it and feel the adrenalin rush.

This sentence has beautifully crystallised the meaning of what it means to be an adrenalin junkie ^_^

Re: Slow breathing modulates brain function and risk behavior

#38

Post by guerrilla »

cryzinger wrote: post #4

Parasympathetic nervous activation increased risk-taking behavior? That's interesting/unexpected (at least to me). Also, this part caught my eye: > The selective impact of prolonged exhalation breathing on reward responsiveness has important implications for clinical contexts, such as anxiety, panic disorder, and depression, given their distinct autonomic signatures and maladaptive reward processing. By enhancing car…

It makes complete sense. Think about the opposite: When you don't feel safe, you'll want to reduce risk taking.

Re: Slow breathing modulates brain function and risk behavior

#39

Post by achow »

Sam6late wrote: post #17

Slow breathing is also recommended for novices before public speaking, as it helps speakers overcome irrational physiological fear of facing people, the risk-taking shift is useful as it helps you speak more confidently, not more cautiously. Slow breathing can calm nerves quickly; bottom-up regulation: body tells brain “you’re safe”.

Slow breathing (in yoga: pranayama) instantly down-regulates your nervous system by boosting vagal tone and lowering sympathetic "fight-or-flight" activity. When your breath lengthens, it signals your brain that you are completely safe, dropping your heart rate and lowering blood pressure.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12858147/

Re: Slow breathing modulates brain function and risk behavior

#40

Post by vixen99 »

The finding certainly chimes with my experience. A few deep breaths each with a slow release taking up to around twelve seconds almost always lowers my blood pressure sometimes by as much as 10 points with the attendant calmness thrown in. Although the BP effect is temporary, by habitually doing it, my BP even drops on a semi-permanent basis. Reports on this routine abound. If the goal here can be achieved, those with a BP problem will immediately appreciate the upside of this approach.
Post reply on HN