Breathe away anxiety? stanford tests cyclic sighing and box breathing.
NCT ID NCT06526585
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study from Stanford University tests whether two breathing techniques—cyclic sighing and box breathing—can lower anxiety, compared to hypnosis or listening to an audiobook about stress. Eighty adults will practice daily for 4 weeks and have their brain activity and heart rate measured using MRI and wearable sensors. The goal is to see if these simple practices provide immediate and lasting relief from anxiety.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
Active substance
breathing exercises (cyclic sighing and box breathing)
What this could lead to
If it works, this could point toward simple, drug-free breathing techniques to help manage anxiety in daily life.
What could go wrong
This is a small, early-stage study with only 80 participants. Results may not apply to everyone, and the benefits might be no better than listening to an audiobook.
Disclaimer
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Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
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Study contacts
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Contact
Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••
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Contact
Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••
Locations
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Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences
RECRUITINGStanford, California, 94305, United States