An exploratory study of breathwork-induced altered states of consciousness in experienced practitioners: the airways to alteration (A2A) trial
Guy W. Fincham, Edward Caddye, Amy A. Kartar, Elizabeth A. Lilley, Nicola Stoke, Alessandro Colasanti
Frontiers in Psychology June 10, 2026 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1851882 via OpenAlex
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractA single session of high ventilation breathwork produced larger altered states of consciousness—including mystical experience, emotional breakthrough, and feelings of oneness—than body scan meditation in 24 healthy adults. One week later, breathwork was associated with greater psychological insight and self-reported behavioral change. Both groups showed improvements in stress, anxiety, depression, and well-being over time. These preliminary findings suggest breathwork can induce psychedelic-like effects and support further confirmatory research.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Preliminary experimental study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 24 |
| Population | Healthy adults |
| Interventions | High ventilation breathwork Body scan meditation |
| Duration | Single session, 1-week follow-up |
| Topics | Mysticism |
| Keywords | Exploratory research Context archaeology Altered state Consciousness Depression economics |
| Key finding | Breathwork was associated with larger acute psychedelic-like effects, emotional breakthrough, and greater psychological insight and behavioral change at one-week follow-up compared to body scan meditation. |
Abstract
Background Breathwork that increases ventilatory rate or depth represents an accessible non-pharmacological modality for potentially inducing altered states of consciousness (ASCs). Despite gaining traction as a potential therapeutic tool, empirical controlled research on breathwork and ASCs remains limited. Methods We examined the effects of a single session of high ventilation breathwork, compared to body scan meditation, in 24 healthy adults with primary outcomes of acute ASCs including mystical experience and emotional breakthrough. Sub-acute secondary outcomes were collected 1 week later. Results Breathwork was associated with larger effects on oceanic boundlessness ( p = 0.007, r = 0.63), visionary restructuralisation ( p = 0.018, r = 0.60), total mystical experience ( p = 0.007, r = 0.66), oneness ( p = 0.018, r = 0.60), positive mood ( p = 0.007, r = 0.66), ineffability ( p = 0.038, r = 0.55), and emotional breakthrough ( p = 0.028, r = 0.45). At follow-up, breathwork was associated with substantially greater psychological insight ( p = 0.002, r = 0.67) and behavioral change ( p = 0.008, r = 0.60) relative to body scan meditation. Stress, anxiety, depression and wellbeing improved in both groups over time. Discussion Results from this preliminary experimental study indicate that breathwork is associated with larger acute psychedelic-like effects than meditation, alongside greater emotional breakthrough, insight, and self-reported behavioral change. These exploratory relationships and preliminary observations provide greater context around breathwork-induced ASCs, and support the feasibility of ASC-focused breathwork research for future confirmatory trials.