# Intensive Breathwork Induces Psychedelic-Like States Through Altered Brain Blood Flow Researchers find that rapid, continuous breathing triggers profound perceptual changes and brain network reorganization. - **Source:** [Earth.com](https://www.earth.com) - **Published:** 2026-11-06 - **Topic:** [health](https://brifing.si/c/health) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/4a99733c-14dd-4fff-a3b2-b38caec93e9d ## Psychedelic Effects Without Drugs Practitioners of intensive breathwork report vivid imagery and feelings of universal unity similar to psychedelic experiences. Researchers at the Central Institute of Mental Health in Mannheim studied 30 experienced individuals to understand these states. The study suggests that these profound perceptual shifts are linked to significant changes in cerebral blood flow. ## Physiological Mechanism of Breathwork Rapid, nonstop breathing lowers carbon dioxide levels in the blood, which typically keeps cerebral vessels dilated. As carbon dioxide drops, these vessels constrict, significantly reducing blood flow to the brain. During the study, blood flow in grey matter decreased by approximately 45 percent, approaching levels associated with oxygen deprivation in previous research. ## Threshold of Altered Perception The study found no direct correlation between the magnitude of blood flow reduction and the intensity of the reported experience. Researchers suggest the drop acts as a threshold mechanism rather than a linear scale. Once blood flow falls sufficiently, altered states become possible, but further reductions do not necessarily deepen the subjective experience. ## Brain Network Reorganization The team examined the default mode network, which governs self-referential thinking and is typically affected by substances like LSD. While overall network coordination remained stable, individuals with the most significant weakening of these specific connections reported the most intense experiences. This suggests a potential link between network reorganization and altered consciousness. ## Study Methodology and Constraints Participants aged 26 to 64 performed circular breathing for 36 to 96 minutes inside an MRI scanner. The study excluded individuals with psychiatric histories or recent psychedelic use to isolate the effects of breathing. Medical staff monitored all sessions, and participants rated their experiences using a standardized four-point scale throughout the process. ## Limitations of Preliminary Findings The study was limited by a small sample size and the absence of a control group for comparison. Because circular breathing causes significant physical movement, brain scans were conducted after the breathing ceased. This prevents researchers from confirming if network changes occur during the activity or are a lingering effect afterward. ## Future Research Directions Future investigations require advanced scanning techniques capable of handling the physical motion associated with intense breathing. Researchers also emphasize the need for comparison sessions involving plain rest to isolate the impact of the breathing technique itself. Determining whether these brain changes have clinical relevance remains a primary goal for future studies. ## Clinical and Scientific Potential Breathwork represents an inexpensive, non-pharmacological intervention for studying consciousness. While findings are preliminary, the ability to induce altered states without drugs offers a unique tool for neuroscientists. Understanding these mechanisms could eventually provide insights into how the brain regulates perception and self-experience through controlled physiological interventions and network-level shifts. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.earth.com/science/intensive-breathing-exercises-can-create-psychedelic-tripping-effects-by-changing-how-the-brain-talks-to-itself/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._