The Rhythmic Embodied Perception Framework of breath, brain, and perception.
Neuroscience of consciousness January 1, 2026 Ralph Andrews, Paul M Dockree
A new framework called Rhythmic Embodied Perception (REP) proposes that breathing rhythms shape conscious experience by modulating brain activity. Slow respiratory cycles influence cortical oscillations, creating brief periods of low excitability during which sensory information is most likely to reach awareness. Volitional breath control can stabilize these dynamics by engaging neuromodulatory systems, extending these perceptual windows and enhancing attentional stability. The framework generates testable predictions, such as that respiratory phase should affect sensory detection and that slow-paced breathing should strengthen respiration-cortex coupling. It integrates neuroscience, theories of discrete perception, and yogic concepts of prana, positioning respiration as a trainable tool for shaping perception and attention.