09/29/2025
🧠 Breathwork induces psychedelic brain states without drugs, study shows
A new study has revealed that fast, music-driven breathwork can unlock psychedelic-like states without the use of drugs, offering a powerful and natural alternative for emotional healing and mental wellness.
Researchers at Brighton and Sussex Medical School used neuroimaging to examine participants practicing high ventilation breathwork (HVB) and found significant changes in brain activity. The technique led to decreased blood flow in areas tied to bodily awareness, while simultaneously increasing flow to the amygdala and hippocampus—regions involved in emotional memory. Participants consistently reported states of bliss, unity, and reduced fear, mirroring effects seen with substances like psilocybin.
This drug-free method induced what researchers call "oceanic boundlessness"—a profound sense of connection, euphoria, and spiritual insight. The findings suggest breathwork could be a transformative therapeutic tool for conditions like depression and anxiety, free from the legal and physiological risks of psychedelics. While further research is needed to expand on these results and isolate the role of music, the study offers a promising direction for safe, accessible treatments that tap into the brain’s natural potential for altered states of consciousness.
Reference: “Neurobiological substrates of altered states of consciousness induced by high ventilation breathwork accompanied by music” by Amy Amla Kartar et al., PLOS ONE, August 27, 2025.
