Breathing above the brain stem: volitional control and attentional modulation in humans

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Science
• Respiratory Physiology

Background:

• Traditional focus on brain stem control of automatic breathing.
• Growing interest in higher brain mechanisms and cognitive aspects of respiration.
• Therapeutic use of conscious breathing lacks mechanistic understanding.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the neurophysiological link between breathing and cortical/limbic neuronal activity in humans.
• To explore how cognitive factors influence the brain's response to breathing.
• To elucidate the neural mechanisms underlying conscious breathing and interoceptive attention.

Main Methods:

• Direct intracranial electroencephalogram (iEEG) recordings in humans.
• Correlation of neuronal activity with the breathing cycle.
• Analysis of gamma-band oscillations (40-150 Hz) during cognitive tasks.

Main Results:

• Neuronal activity in cortical and limbic structures directly tracks the breathing cycle.
• The iEEG signal shows breath-tracking across a widespread neural network.
• Volitional breathing engages frontotemporal-insular networks; attention to breathing modulates cingulate and hippocampal cortices.

Conclusions:

• Breathing acts as a hierarchical organizing principle for neuronal oscillations.
• Cognitive factors significantly impact the interplay between breathing and brain activity.
• Provides novel insights into the neural basis of interoceptive attention and therapeutic breathing techniques.