Breathwork has been utilized throughout history, from its role in spiritual practices to its modern applications in health and wellness. In its various forms, controlled breathing can influence both mind and body, and when paired with music, studies have shown that breathwork can evoke blissful—and at times, even psychedelic-like—states of mind.
Now, a new peer-reviewed study highlights that high-ventilation breathwork (HVB) may contribute to inducing altered states of consciousness (ASCs) as a drug-free approach, with potential therapeutic benefits that may help provide relief for those dealing with emotional pain.
Researchers from the Department of Clinical Neuroscience at Brighton and Sussex Medical School investigated how fast, deep breathing performed rhythmically to music can affect both subjective experiences and brain physiology. For centuries, cultures around the world have employed such breathing techniques; however, their benefits on a larger neurological scale have only recently begun to be understood.
“Our research is the first to use neuroimaging to map the neurophysiological changes that occur during breathwork. Our key findings include that breathwork can reliably evoke profound psychedelic states,” said lead author Amy Amla Kartar and Dr. Alessandro Colasanti, P.I. from Colasanti Lab, in a co-statement.
“We believe that these states are linked to changes in the function of specific brain regions involved in self-awareness, fear, and emotional memory processing,” the researchers said. “We found that more profound changes in blood flow in specific brain areas were linked to deeper sensations of unity, bliss, and emotional release, collectively known as ‘oceanic boundlessness.'”
Deep Roots in the East
The combination of breathwork and music has deep historical roots, particularly in Eastern spiritual and healing traditions.
“Ancient practices like high-ventilation breathwork have been used for centuries in spiritual and healing contexts, but the biological mechanisms behind their effects remain under-investigated,” Kartar noted in an email to The Debrief. “Our study begins to map what happens in the brain during high-ventilation breathwork, suggesting possible mechanisms behind the profound alterations in consciousness people anecdotally report. By uncovering these brain changes, we create a bridge between ancient practices and modern neuroscience, directing research toward larger studies and the therapeutic potential of this technique.”
Elsewhere, Daoist practices in China, such as Qigong and Dao Yin, involved breath control and vocalization. Tibetan monks developed techniques that blended breathing, chanting, and ritual instruments—such as drums, horns, and cymbals—into meditative practices.
Shamanic traditions, dating back to prehistoric times in regions like Central Asia and Siberia, also employed breath control, drumming, and vocalizations to induce altered states of consciousness.
Today, similar elements of breathwork and chanting are found in modern consciousness exploration techniques. The Monroe Institute, for example, is recognized for its use of binaural beats, also known as Hemi-Sync Guided Meditation, to help participants enter expanded states of consciousness.
In the modern world, we see elements of breathwork, alongside practices that include chanting, in various consciousness exploration techniques. The Monroe Institute is recognized within such circles for utilizing binaural beats, also known as Hemi-Sync Guided Meditation, to guide participants attending the institute into an experientially expanded state of consciousness.
Luigi Sciambarella, a trainer and board member at The Monroe Institute who was not involved in the recent study, explained to The Debrief in an email that the Monroe Institute teaches what it calls ‘resonant tuning,’ which Sciambarella describes as “part of the way we prepare people for altered states,” noting that it “serves several functions.”
“It’s using sound and breath together to settle the system, and this is associated with a visualisation of imagining fresh energy coming in and stale energy going out,” Sciambarella explained. The vibration produced by sound, he says, “acts like an inner tuning fork” that can help create “a shared resonance that helps everyone drop in more deeply” when performed in a group setting.
Using cutting-edge Monroe Sound Science technology, guided imagery, and collaborative group activities, program teachers at the Monroe Institute offer instruction on a range of meditation practices from around the world.
“What we know now is that breath sits right at the crossroads of body and mind,” Sciambarella adds, “and it’s one of the few automatic processes that can be brought under conscious control. By altering its rhythm, especially by making the out-breath longer than the in-breath, you kickstart the parasympathetic response.”
“The slower breathing signals safety to the body, lowers arousal, and makes it much easier to enter those calm, expansive states,” he says.
The Study
The study included 42 participants across three categories: 15 who practiced breathwork remotely, 8 in a laboratory setting, and 19 inside an MRI scanner.
Each participant completed a 20- to 30-minute session of cyclic breathing with no pauses while listening to music. Afterward, they completed questionnaires about their emotional and psychological state.
Results showed that HVB consistently induced ASCs, often described as “oceanic boundlessness” (OBN)—a term referring to feelings of unity, spiritual insight, and bliss—while also exhibiting positive associations with depersonalization. OBN is considered a hallmark of psychedelic states produced by substances like psilocybin.
Outside of increased heart rate caused by sympathetic nervous system activation, participants reported reduced fear and negative emotions. MRI scans revealed notable shifts in cerebral blood flow, with no adverse side effects observed.
HVB generally decreased overall brain blood flow but increased activity in the right amygdala and anterior hippocampus, regions associated with emotion processing and memory. Conversely, reduced flow in the left operculum and posterior insula—areas linked to body awareness—was associated with stronger altered states.
“We found that high-ventilation breathwork produced widespread reductions in blood flow across the brain,” Kartar explained. “Notably, decreases in the left parietal operculum/posterior insula predicted feelings of bliss, euphoria, and connectedness with the world. These regions help the brain integrate signals from the body, so reduced blood flow here may disrupt the sense of bodily ownership—contributing to the altered states participants reported.”
Kartar added that increased blood flow in the amygdala and hippocampus could suggest that HVB facilitates the processing of emotional memories.
“Breathwork is a powerful yet natural tool, working through regulation of metabolism across the body and brain,” Colasanti said. “It holds tremendous promise as a transformative therapeutic intervention for conditions that are often both distressing and disabling.”
Because HVB can create psychedelic-like states without substances, researchers suggest it may serve as an alternative to psychedelic-assisted therapy.
What’s Next
Given the small group size, the study was exploratory, and larger research efforts will be needed.
“Many people anecdotally recognize the health benefits of breathwork,” Kartar said. “But this fast-paced style has received very little scientific attention. Our work is an important step toward uncovering its therapeutic potential.”
Sciambarella agrees: “The new PLOS study really lines up with this. It shows that deliberate breathing can change blood flow in the brain and evoke feelings of bliss, unity, and emotional release—very similar to what people report in psychedelic states. At Monroe, we see breathwork as a natural, non-pharmacological way to open the door to those kinds of profound experiences.”
As modern neuroscience and ancient practices continue to intersect, future research may help society harness this knowledge to unlock new pathways for healing, consciousness, and human potential.
Chrissy Newton is a PR professional and founder of VOCAB Communications. She currently appears on The Discovery Channel and Max and hosts the Rebelliously Curious podcast, which can be found on YouTube and on all audio podcast streaming platforms. Follow her on X: @ChrissyNewton, Instagram: @BeingChrissyNewton, and chrissynewton.com.