Huberman Lab Dr. Jack Feldman: Breathing for Mental & Physical Health & Performance
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Jan 10, 2022 
Dr. Jack Feldman, a distinguished neurobiologist at UCLA and breathing expert, shares fascinating insights into respiration. He explores how breathing affects mental states like fear and memory, and discusses diverse techniques, including box-breathing and cyclic hyperventilation. Feldman highlights the brain regions controlling breathing and the physiological significance of sighs. Listeners learn about the impact of nostril usage on emotional responses and how practices such as breathwork can enhance cognitive and physical performance. This informative conversation serves as a masterclass in the power of breath.
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Why We Breathe
- We breathe to obtain oxygen for metabolism and expel carbon dioxide.
- Carbon dioxide affects blood pH, which the body carefully regulates.
Neural Control of Breathing
- Respiratory muscles, like the diaphragm and intercostals, are skeletal muscles requiring neural input.
- A specialized brainstem area, the pre-Bötzinger complex, controls breathing rhythm.
Nose vs. Mouth Breathing
- Nasal breathing is typical at rest, while mouth breathing facilitates increased airflow during exercise.
- Diaphragm and intercostal muscle contraction are largely unaffected by whether breathing is nasal or oral.
