Breathwork has profound effects on the human brain. A new study shows that breathing through the right nostril versus the left differentially influences brain activity. Whereas right-nostril breathing promoted brain activity in areas related to language and sense of direction, left-nostril breathing promoted activity in areas related to introspection.
Scientists monitored the brain activity of 30 healthy adults practicing unilateral nostril breathing (UNB). Participants breathed through a CPAP-like device (like those used by people with sleep apnea) that delivered pressurized air through one nostril with greater force than the other. This capitalized on the phenomenon of nostril dominance – the tendency for one nostril to have greater airflow than the other. Nostril dominance changes roughly every two to three hours. The experimental session consisted of a resting phase, a 10-minute UNB session using the dominant nostril, and a 10-minute UNB session using the non-dominant nostril.
They found that breathing through the dominant nostril increased brain activity in the left inferior frontal and left parietal lobes – brain areas involved in language and spatial orientation. Conversely, breathing through the non-dominant nostril had a more widespread effect on the posterior areas of the brain, particularly those involved in the brain’s default mode network.
The belief that UNB can influence brain function is an ancient one, practiced by Indian yogis for many centuries. For example, the yogis believed that blocking one nostril and forcefully breathing through the other would activate the opposing cerebral hemisphere. Modern research supports these claims, which observed increased activity in the contralateral hemisphere during UNB. In addition, breathing through the right nostril may promote alertness, while breathing through the left nostril may promote calm.
These findings indicate that the cognitive effects of breathing through the right nostril versus the left differ and may have applications in treating various brain disorders.
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