Intensive breathwork cut brain blood flow by about 45% in small study, researchers say
Representative image: Anilsharma26 / Pixabay
A German study of 30 experienced practitioners, presented at the ECNP Congress in October 2026, found intensive fast breathing sharply cut blood flow in the brain's grey matter.
What Happened
A study by researchers in Germany has found that intensive, fast "breathwork" sharply reduces blood flow in the brain and is linked to changes in how brain networks communicate. The work, led by Dr Christian Schmitz at the Central Institute of Mental Health in Mannheim with the German Center for Mental Health and the MIND Foundation in Berlin, was presented at the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ECNP) Congress and reported on Sunday, October 11, 2026. Thirty experienced practitioners did high-ventilation breathwork inside an MRI scanner. Blood flow in the brain's grey matter fell by about 45 per cent, and people who reported stronger altered states of consciousness showed larger changes in a brain system called the default mode network. The researchers called the results preliminary.
Key Facts
- The study involved 30 experienced breathwork practitioners scanned in an MRI machine during high-ventilation (fast, deep) breathing.
- Their altered states of consciousness were rated every 12 minutes during the session.
- Blood flow in grey matter dropped by about 45 per cent, according to the researchers' reported results.
- Those who reported stronger altered states showed bigger changes in the default mode network, which is active when the mind is at rest or turned inward.
- The authors say the findings do not show that reduced blood flow directly causes these experiences.
- There was no control group, and all participants were experienced, so results may not apply to beginners.
- The study was presented at the ECNP Congress; Dr Christian Schmitz and co-coordinator Hana Adolphi both described the findings as preliminary.
Why It Matters
Breathing practices are growing in popularity worldwide, from wellness retreats to apps, and some styles promise intense emotional or "psychedelic-like" experiences through fast, deep breathing. This study measured, inside a brain scanner, what happens during such a session. The researchers stress that it cannot prove cause and effect.
For Indian readers, the natural comparison is with pranayama, the breathing practices of the yoga tradition. It is important to be clear about what this study did and did not test. It looked at a specific Western style of intensive, high-ventilation breathwork done for an extended period by experienced practitioners. It did not study pranayama, slow breathing or the breath practices commonly taught in yoga classes, and its findings should not be read as a verdict on them.
What the study does offer is a reminder that breathing techniques are not all the same, and that some have strong effects on the body and brain. Anyone considering intensive breathwork would do well to learn from a qualified teacher and to talk to a doctor if they have health concerns. The researchers themselves say more work, with control groups and beginners, is needed before drawing conclusions about benefits or risks.
| | Study detail | Finding | |
|---|---|
| | Participants | 30 experienced breathwork practitioners | |
| | Method | High-ventilation breathwork inside an MRI scanner | |
| | Brain blood flow | Fell by about 45% in grey matter | |
| | Link to experience | Stronger altered states matched bigger default mode network changes | |
| | Limits | No control group; experienced users only; preliminary | |
Impact
Short-term: The study gives practitioners and teachers of intensive breathwork the first brain-imaging data on what happens during a session, and adds caution to claims made about these practices.
Long-term: Larger, controlled studies could show whether intensive breathwork has therapeutic value, as some groups hope, or whether its risks outweigh benefits for certain people.
Who is affected: People who practise or teach breathwork; yoga and wellness practitioners interested in how breathing affects the brain; and researchers studying altered states of consciousness and mental health.
Key Takeaway
Intensive fast breathing dramatically reduced brain blood flow in a small German study, a preliminary finding that applies to high-ventilation breathwork, not to everyday pranayama.
Questions and Answers
What did the breathwork study find?
In 30 experienced practitioners, intensive high-ventilation breathwork reduced grey-matter blood flow in the brain by about 45 per cent, and stronger altered states were linked to larger changes in the default mode network. It was presented at the ECNP Congress and reported on October 11, 2026.
Does this study apply to pranayama?
No. It tested a specific style of intensive, fast, deep breathwork. It did not test pranayama or slow breathing practices taught in most yoga classes.
Is intensive breathwork dangerous?
The study did not test safety, and its authors call the findings preliminary. Anyone with health concerns should talk to a doctor before trying intensive breathwork.
Who did the research?
A team led by Dr Christian Schmitz at the Central Institute of Mental Health in Mannheim, with the German Center for Mental Health and the MIND Foundation in Berlin.
Disclaimer: Prepared by the Peepals newsroom from publicly available sources with AI assistance. Information is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication and may change. Images may be representative. Not professional advice. Report an error via our contact page.
Sourced and fact-checked by the Peepals Global Editorial Team
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Reported, fact-checked and published by the Peepals Global Editorial Team.
