Airways to Alteration (A2A): a randomised-controlled trial exploring effects of breathwork on conscious state
Research Square November 18, 2025 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-7254002/v1
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractA single session of high ventilation breathwork, compared to body scan meditation, produced substantially greater altered states of consciousness in 24 healthy adults, including mystical experiences, emotional breakthrough, and feelings of oneness. One week later, breathwork led to greater psychological insight and behavioral change. Both groups showed improvements in stress, anxiety, depression, and well-being over time. The results indicate that breathwork induces acute psychedelic-like effects and may have therapeutic potential.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 24 |
| Population | Healthy adults |
| Interventions | high ventilation breathwork body scan meditation |
| Duration | Single session, one-week follow-up |
| Registration | NCT06916312 |
| Key finding | Breathwork induced greater acute psychedelic-like effects and emotional breakthrough than meditation, with substantial effects on insight and behavior at one-week follow-up. |
Abstract
Abstract Breathwork which increases ventilatory rate or depth represents an accessible nonpharmacological modality for potentially inducing altered states of consciousness (ASCs). Despite gaining traction as a therapeutic tool, empirical research remains limited, hence we conducted the first randomised-controlled trial (NCT06916312) on breathwork and ASCs. 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 one week later. Breathwork was associated with considerable 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 induced substantially greater psychological insight ( p = 0.002, r = 0.67) and behavioural change ( p = 0.008, r = 0.60). Stress, anxiety, depression and wellbeing improved in both groups over time. Results from this trial indicate that breathwork induces greater acute psychedelic-like effects than meditation, paired with substantial effects on emotional breakthrough, insight, and behaviour. These novel findings are relevant for future characterisation of breathwork’s potential in therapeutic contexts.