Wissenschaftler identifizieren Gehirnschaltkreise, die dazu dienen, die Atmung bewusst zu verlangsamen, und bestätigen, dass dadurch Ängste und negative Emotionen reduziert werden. Als die Forscher diesen Cortex-Pons-Medulla-Schaltkreis bei Mäusen künstlich aktivierten, verlangsamte sich der Atem der Tiere und sie zeigten weniger Anzeichen von Angst.

I’ve linked to the press release in the post above. In this comment, for those interested, here’s the link to the peer reviewed journal article:

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41593-024-01799-w

From the linked article:

Abstract

Although breathing is primarily automatic, its modulation by behavior and emotions suggests cortical inputs to brainstem respiratory networks, which hitherto have received little characterization. Here we identify in mice a top-down breathing pathway from dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) neurons to pontine reticular nucleus GABAergic inhibitory neurons (PnCGABA), which then project to the ventrolateral medulla (VLM). dACC→PnC activity correlates with slow breathing cycles and volitional orofacial behaviors and is influenced by anxiogenic conditions. Optogenetic stimulation of the dACC→PnCGABA→VLM circuit simultaneously slows breathing and suppresses anxiety-like behaviors, whereas optogenetic inhibition increases both breathing rate and anxiety-like behaviors. These findings suggest that the dACC→PnCGABA→VLM circuit has a crucial role in coordinating slow breathing and reducing negative affect. Our study elucidates a circuit basis for top-down control of breathing, which can influence emotional states.

From the linked article:

Neuroscientists discover how the brain slows anxious breathing

Salk scientists identify brain circuit used to consciously slow breathing and confirm this reduces anxiety and negative emotions

Neuroscientists at the Salk Institute have now, for the first time, identified a specific brain circuit that regulates breathing voluntarily. Using mice, the researchers pinpointed a group of brain cells in the frontal cortex that connects to the brainstem, where vital actions like breathing are controlled. Their findings suggest this connection between the more sophisticated parts of the brain and the lower brainstem’s breathing center allows us to coordinate our breathing with our current behaviors and emotional state.

The findings, published in Nature Neuroscience on November 19, 2024, describe a new set of brain cells and molecules that could be targeted with therapeutics to prevent hyperventilation and regulate anxiety, panic, or post-traumatic stress disorders.

To test this, the researchers recorded brain activity in mice during behaviors that alter breathing, such as sniffing, swimming, and drinking, as well as during conditions that induce fear and anxiety. They also used a technique called optogenetics to turn parts of this brain circuit on or off in different emotional and behavioral contexts while measuring the animals’ breathing and behavior.

Their findings confirmed that when the connection between the cortex and the pons was activated, mice were calmer and breathed more slowly, but when mice were in anxiety-inducing situations, this communication decreased, and breathing rates went up. Furthermore, when the researchers artificially activated this cortex-pons-medulla circuit, the animals’ breath slowed, and they showed fewer signs of anxiety. On the other hand, if researchers shut this circuit off, breathing rates went up, and the mice became more anxious.

Okay now hook me up terminal man style so I can stop freaking out