Last week, we discussed century-old ideas about nasal breathing and mental function. I said that current science is beginning to catch up. Here’s how.
Modern Science Supports 100 Year-Old Observations
A study published in 2016 in The Journal of Neuroscience showed that nasal breathing is intimately connected to brainwave oscillations, emotional recognition, and memory retrieval.
Intracranial EEG measurements showed that nasal breathing synchronizes brainwave oscillations in the olfactory bulb, the hippocampus, and the amygdala. When breathing was switched to the mouth, this coherence disappeared.
In a follow-on experiment, they showed participants pictures of faces expressing fear or surprise. They had to pick which one it was as fast as they could.
Not only did the nasal breathers outperform the mouth breathers, but they also found that responses were quickest during inhalation versus exhalation. The participants also had more accurate memory retrieval during nasal inhalation.
Taken together, their results indicate that nasal breathing acts to organize brainwave oscillations and improve cognitive functioning.
These results also help explain Guye’s theory about nasal breathing and mental function. That is, they support the quote “Shut your mouth and save your brain.”
Breathing is More Than Just Gases
These results imply that breathing is about more than just about gases. Breathing acts to synchronize brain activity and enhance cognitive function…but only when performed through the nose.
In good breath,
Nick