Breath holds and brain waves: could simple breathing exercises reshape your sleep and stress?
NCT ID NCT06317259
First seen Aug 04, 2026 · Last updated Aug 05, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tests whether a week of daily slow-paced breathing with breath holds—known as breathwork—can alter brain activity, sleep, mood, and body chemistry. Healthy adults aged 18 to 45 will practice breathwork for about a week, with some also listening to music and positive messages. Researchers will measure brain waves, sleep patterns, and biomarkers from blood, urine, and stool before and after the practice to see if breathwork has measurable effects.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Hypoxic breathwork (rhythmic breathing with breath holds), with or without music and positive messaging
- What this could lead to
- If breathwork measurably alters brain activity, sleep, and stress-related biomarkers, it could point toward a drug-free way to improve mental and physical well-being.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-stage study in healthy volunteers, so results may not apply to the general public or to people with health conditions. The breath holds may cause discomfort or dizziness.
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As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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UC San Diego
RECRUITINGLa Jolla, California, 92093, United States