Breathing rate may affect how we perceive others. New discovery by researchers

A fascinating study from National Taiwan University, published in the European Journal of Neuroscience, reveals a previously underestimated connection between our breath and how we perceive others. The research, highlighted by PsyPost.org, demonstrates that the conscious rhythm of our breathing actively influences the brain networks responsible for making split-second social judgments.

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Odkrycie ujawnia, że rytm naszych płuc aktywnie kształtuje sieci mózgowe zaangażowane w podejmowanie błyskawicznych osądów.

Led by Shen-Mou Hsu and Chih-Hsin Tseng, the study aimed to explore how voluntary breathing patterns affect our visual processing of emotional cues. Recognizing the difficulty in measuring these effects during natural, often unconscious, breathing, the researchers devised an experiment where participants synchronized their breaths with visual cues. This allowed for precise control over the breathing pace – either a normal cycle of just over four seconds or a slowed cycle exceeding eight seconds per breath.

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Pomiar tych efektów podczas naturalnego oddychania jest bowiem niezwykle trudny. Ludzie mają tendencję do nieświadomej zmiany wzorców oddechowych, gdy koncentrują się na wymagającym zadaniu laboratoryjnym.

The findings are particularly intriguing: slowing the breath during exhalation made it harder for participants to identify fearful faces. However, during inhalation, a slower breathing rate actually improved their visual sensitivity to emotional expressions. This suggests that our respiratory cycle isn't just a passive bodily function but an active modulator of our social perception, influencing how readily we pick up on subtle emotional signals from others. This research opens new avenues for understanding the intricate links between bodily states and cognitive processes.

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Spowolnienie oddechu utrudniało uczestnikom podczas wydechu rozróżnienie twarzy wyrażających strach od twarzy neutralnych. Natomiast podczas wdechu powolny oddech poprawiał ich wrażliwość wzrokową w porównaniu z normalnym tempem oddychania.