Breath of Life: The Respiratory Vagal Stimulation Model of Contemplative Activity
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience October 9, 2018 Roderik J S Gerritsen, G. Band 327 citations
Contemplative practices like meditation and yoga are linked to benefits for physical health, mental health, and cognitive performance, but the mechanisms behind these effects are not well understood. This theoretical review argues that many such practices share a common element: regulated or attentively guided breathing. This respiratory discipline may explain the benefits through changes in autonomic balance, specifically by stimulating the vagal nerve. The authors propose a model called respiratory vagal nerve stimulation (rVNS), which suggests that specific breathing styles phasically and tonically activate the vagus nerve, a key part of the parasympathetic nervous system. The model's implications and limitations are discussed.