Breathing into Bliss: The Psychedelic Brain
For centuries, people have used breath as a gateway to altered states of consciousness. Now, modern neuroscience is beginning to explain why. A new study has revealed that high ventilation breathwork while listening music can shift brain activity in ways strikingly similar to psychedelic drugs — with reports of blissful states and reduced negative emotions.
The Study
The study involved 42 experienced breathwork practitioners of which 15 participated online, 8 in the lab, and 19 who underwent magnetic resonance imaging. Participants completed 20–30 minute sessions of high-ventilation breathwork (HVB) — a continuous, deep, and fast breathing technique — while listening to music.
Researchers combined brain imaging, cardiovascular monitoring, and questionnaires to capture both the physiological and subjective effects of the practice.
What They Found
Subjective experiences: Participants reported reduced fear and negative emotions, alongside profound feelings of bliss, insight, and connectedness. These are described as oceanic boundlessness, a hallmark of psychedelic-like states.
Brain changes: Imaging showed reduced blood flow in areas linked to body awareness (posterior insula, operculum) and increased flow in regions tied to emotion and memory (amygdala, hippocampus).
High ventilation breathwork when listening to music shifted blood flow away from body-awareness regions and toward emotional circuits, aligning with participants’ reports of bliss and connection.
Body–mind link: Stronger activation of the cardiovascular system was associated with more intense altered states, suggesting the body’s stress pathways may help fuel the experience.
New to Breathwork?
Beyond the psychedelic-like states shown in this study, breathwork has been linked to better focus, improved stress resilience, and deeper relaxation. Incorporating it into your daily routine doesn’t have to be complicated — here’s where to start:
Try rhythmic breathing: Inhale and exhale at a steady pace for a few minutes, focusing on depth and consistency.
Pair it with music: Sound can help guide the rhythm and enhance the experience.
Explore simple techniques: Techniques like box breathing (inhale 4, hold 4, exhale 4, hold 4) are accessible entry points.
Build gradually: Start with a few minutes each day, and increase as it feels comfortable.
Even gentle, structured breathing can shift your mood, energy, and body awareness in meaningful ways.
Breathwork is more than a calming tool. Under the right conditions, it may temporarily rewire brain circuits to create powerful, psychedelic-like experiences — reminding us that something as simple as the breath can profoundly shape how we feel and connect with the world.
Source:
Kartar AA, Horinouchi T, Örzsik B, Anderson B, Hall L, Bailey D, et al. (2025) Neurobiological substrates of altered states of consciousness induced by high ventilation breathwork accompanied by music. PLoS One 20(8): e0329411. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0329411
