Study Suggests Breathwork Can Get You Trippy Without LSD
A new study suggests that fast-paced breathwork, especially when paired with music, can trigger altered states of consciousness similar to psychedelic experiences. The research, published in PLOS One on August 27, 2025, found that this practice not only lifted mood but also changed blood flow in key areas of the brain.
How the study was conducted
- Researchers at Brighton and Sussex Medical School examined high-ventilation breathwork (HVB) through online sessions, lab experiments, and MRI scans
- Participants performed 20–30 minutes of continuous, cyclic breathing while listening to music
- They reported feelings of bliss, reduced fear, and fewer negative emotions
- MRI scans showed decreased blood flow in regions linked to body awareness, but increased blood flow to the amygdala and hippocampus, areas that process emotion and memory
Scans showed that while blood flow in the brain dropped overall during high-ventilation breathwork, certain areas lit up, the same ones that show activity when people take psychedelics like psilocybin. This could mean that both breathwork and psychedelics tap into a similar brain pathway. That might explain why people in the study reported feeling blissful, connected, and emotionally lighter, much like what’s often described on a psychedelic trip. Scientists think that being able to spark these effects without drugs could make breathwork a valuable tool for therapy, minus the risks and legal issues tied to psychedelics.
Researchers emphasized that larger studies with control groups are needed to confirm the results and separate the specific effects of music from breathwork. Still, the research offers new evidence that simple breathing techniques may hold promise as a non-drug alternative for improving emotional well-being.
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