Neuroscientist Jack Feldman Explains How Breathing Influences Brain Activity and Emotional States
Professor Jack Feldman, a distinguished neurobiology professor at the University of California at Los Angeles, has extensively researched the profound connection between breathing and brain function, particularly how it influences emotional and cognitive states. Feldman's work, which includes the discovery of the preBötzinger complex—the brain circuit controlling sighing—demonstrates that breathing is not merely an automatic physiological process but actively rewrites brainwaves, sharpens memory, and dictates how individuals process the world. He explains that a tiny cluster of neurons in the brainstem orchestrates breathing, and this process is a two-way street: while the brain controls breathing, breathing also influences the brain. His research indicates that practices like slow breathing can significantly reduce fear responses and promote calmness, as observed in animal studies where mice trained to breathe slowly exhibited lower fear levels.
