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Functional nature of respiration–brain–behavior coupling

Ascertain whether respiration-driven modulation of neural oscillations produces functional changes in perception, motor control, and cognition rather than reflecting epiphenomenological correlations, and quantify the extent to which higher-order interactions among bodily signals govern these effects.

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Background

Nasal respiration modulates cortical oscillations via olfactory pathways, with observed behavioral influences across perceptual, motor, and cognitive domains. Despite strong correlational evidence, the functional versus epiphenomenal nature of respiration–brain coupling remains unresolved.

Clarifying causality and the contribution of multi-rhythm body–brain interactions is pivotal for theories of active sensing and potential interventions targeting respiratory dynamics.

References

Taken together, these studies provide strong evidence for breathing-related changes in neural signalling - e.g. critical brain states like excitability or arousal - which in turn translate into behavioural changes. Critical open questions remain as to whether the coupling of respiration, brain, and behaviour is functional rather than epiphenomenological, and the extent to which complex, higher-order interactions of bodily signals modulate the observed effects.

— Brain rhythms in cognition -- controversies and future directions (2507.15639 - Keitel et al., 21 Jul 2025) in Section 1.6.a Respiration