Deep Breaths May Increase Risk-Taking, New Study Suggests
Translated & summarized from Bizportal by baba
A new study in Neuron suggests that deep breathing with an extended exhale increases risk-taking by heightening attention to potential rewards, not by reducing sensitivity to losses. Researchers measured brain activity and physiological responses in 41 participants making risky decisions under different breathing conditions.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Deep breathing with extended exhale may increase risk-taking.
- Effect linked to heightened attention to rewards, not reduced loss sensitivity.
- Study measured brain activity and physiological responses during decisions.
- Findings suggest body's physical state influences decision-making.
- Research involved 41 healthy participants in laboratory conditions.
Contrary to common advice, taking a deep breath with an extended exhale may not make individuals more cautious, but rather bolder, increasing their willingness to take risks. A new study published in the journal Neuron, a collaboration between German and Israeli institutions including the German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam and the Hadassah Medical Center in Berlin, investigated the link between breathing patterns and decision-making.
The research involved 41 healthy participants who made a series of risky decisions under two different breathing conditions: their natural breathing rhythm and a slower pace with a 2:8 inhale-to-exhale ratio. During these decisions, researchers simultaneously measured participants' breathing patterns, heart activity, skin conductance, pupil response, and brain activity using fMRI scans.
The findings revealed that the prolonged exhale slowed heart rate and increased heart rate variability, correlating with riskier choices. Crucially, this effect was not due to decreased sensitivity to losses, but rather an increased attentiveness to potential rewards. Brain scans showed heightened activity in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, associated with reward processing, and the precuneus, linked to heart rate variability regulation.
Lead researcher Professor Soyeon Q. Park stated that decisions are often influenced by the interplay between cognitive processes and our current physical state, and that conscious body regulation, like focused breathing, can actively control decision-making. Co-author Wenhao Huang added that the interplay between breath and heart dynamics makes the brain more attuned to rewards.
The study acknowledges limitations, including a small sample size and laboratory conditions without real financial stakes. Future research aims to explore these effects in clinical populations and their potential impact on eating decisions. The researchers emphasize that while slow breathing can be beneficial for calming down, it may shift the balance towards reward-seeking when making bold decisions.