Nasal breathing synchronizes brain wave activity and improves cognitive function

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

100 years of nasal breathing and mental function

Happy Sunday! I hope you all enjoyed the extra hour of sleep as much as I did.

Last week, we learned that the nose might provide the link between slow breathing and improved emotional outcomes. Before we explore the modern science behind that idea, let’s go back a century and see what we can learn.

An odd sounding word

Over 100 years ago (1889 to be exact), an author named Guye coined the term “aprosexia.” Although it doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue, it’s pretty great:

• Aprosexia
  : The inability to focus your attention due to nasal obstructions.

Guye argued that headaches and the inability to perform difficult mental functions are both caused by mouth breathing. He even suggested that medical practitioners ensure that breathing was not “habitually or temporarily suspended by breathing through the mouth.” (That advice holds true today.)

Guye put particular emphasis on children feeling “over-pressured” in school. He believed that kids would not feel overwhelmed if they had normal nasal respiration. Finally, he concluded with the quote above.

Old becomes new

There is often hidden wisdom rooted in old observations. And the science is catching up. A new study of the brain suggests that nasal breathing is intimately connected to emotional control. We’ll explore that research next week.

Until then, let’s focus on breathing through our nose 24/7, especially during sleep. Because, as we have learned, that motto was updated in 1983 to reflect the importance of nasal breathing during rest:

While asleep, shut your mouth to save your brain.

In good breath,
Nick