Why does a deep breath calm you down?

As a field expert in neuroscience and psychology, I can explain the calming effects of deep breathing from a physiological perspective. "Deep breathing" calms "you down" because it activates a part of your brain that is responsible for detecting changes in your "breath". When you take a "deep breath", it triggers specific neurons in your brain that are sensitive to the rhythm and depth of your breathing. These neurons, about 175 of them, are located in an area called the pre-Botzinger complex, which is involved in the control of breathing. The activation of these neurons sends a signal to other parts of your brain, indicating that it's time to shift from a state of stress or alertness to a state of relaxation. This is because the brain interprets a slow, deep breath as a sign that the body is in a safe environment and does not need to be in a state of fight or flight. Moreover, deep breathing also increases the level of oxygen in your blood, which can help to reduce stress and promote feelings of calmness. It can also stimulate the vagus nerve, which is a key part of the parasympathetic nervous system that helps to regulate the body's rest and digest functions. In summary, deep breathing is a powerful tool for managing stress and anxiety because it engages a neural pathway that promotes relaxation and helps to counteract the body's stress response.

Deep breathing calms you down because brain cells spy on your breath. Taking a deep breath really does calm you down by triggering neurons in your brain which tell the body it is time to relax, a new study has found. ... ��These 175 neurons, which tell the rest of the brain what's going on, are absolutely critical.��