Breathwork and Music Induce Psychedelic-Like States

Recent research indicates that engaging in breathwork while listening to music can lead to deep altered states of consciousness, akin to those experienced with psychedelics. By utilizing self-reports and brain imaging techniques, scientists uncovered that high ventilation breathwork (HVB) not only triggered the body’s stress response but also heightened blood flow to areas such as the amygdala and hippocampus, known for their roles in processing emotions.

Participants commonly reported feelings of bliss, emotional release, and an overarching sense of unity, often referred to as “oceanic boundlessness.” This suggests that breathwork could serve as a promising non-drug therapeutic option for alleviating psychological distress, showing a reduction in fear and negative feelings.

Key Insights

• Psychedelic-Like Experiences: Breathwork initiated sensations of joy, interconnectedness, and emotional breakthroughs comparable to psychedelics.
• Changes in Brain Blood Flow: While HVB generally reduced global blood flow, it simultaneously increased activity in the amygdala and hippocampus, crucial for emotions and memory.
• Emotional Advantages: Participants consistently noted diminished feelings of fear and negativity, without any adverse reactions throughout the sessions.

A study published in August 2025 in the journal PLOS One by Amy Amla Kartar and team from the Brighton and Sussex Medical School supports these findings. The research highlights that these physiological changes can occur even amidst the activation of the body’s stress response and correlate with noted reductions in negative emotions.

Breathwork’s popularity as a psychological healing method is on the rise. Techniques that involve heightened breathing rates, when paired with music, can induce altered states of consciousness that parallel those induced by psychedelic drugs—without the legal and ethical complications. Nevertheless, the underlying neurobiological mechanisms and subjective experiences related to these states have not been thoroughly examined.

To address this gap, Kartar and colleagues studied 15 experienced practitioners through self-reported insights, alongside 8 lab participants and 19 individuals who received MRI scans. The task involved a 20- to 30-minute session of cyclic breathing paired with music, followed by questionnaires within 30 minutes post-session.

The results demonstrated that the intensity of the altered states experienced was directly related to cardiovascular sympathetic activation, evidenced by diminished heart rate variability—a potential marker of stress response. Moreover, while HVB generally caused overall reductions in brain blood flow, there was a notable increase during the session in specific brain regions linked to emotional memory processing.

Participants consistently experienced a significant drop in fear and negative emotions, maintaining that unique, blissful state linked to oceanic boundlessness, a term deriving from Freud’s discussions in 1920. This phenomenon reflects feelings associated with spiritual experiences, insights, and depersonalization, often seen with psychedelics.

Authors of the study acknowledged the need for future research to replicate these findings with larger sample sizes and control groups to better differentiate the effects of music on the brain. Despite these limitations, the results offer valuable insights into HVB’s mechanisms and potential therapeutic applications.

The lead author, Amy Kartar, shared her excitement about this research, highlighting the significant health benefits many associate with breathwork, despite its limited scientific exploration. Dr. Alessandro Colasanti emphasized the therapeutic potential of breathwork as a natural method for neuromodulation, suggesting it could be transformative for individuals facing distressing challenges.