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Breathing for Mental & Physical Health & Performance | Dr. Jack Feldman

Episode 54 Jan 10, 2022 2h 18m 10 insights
This episode my guest is Dr. Jack Feldman, Distinguished Professor of Neurobiology at the University of California, Los Angeles and a pioneering world expert in the science of respiration (breathing). We discuss how and why humans breathe the way we do, the function of the diaphragm and how it serves to increase oxygenation of the brain and body. We discuss how breathing influences mental state, fear, memory, reaction time, and more. And we discuss specific breathing protocols such as box-breathing, cyclic hyperventilation (similar to Wim Hof breathing), nasal versus mouth breathing, unilateral breathing, and how these each affect the brain and body. We discuss physiological sighs, peptides expressed by specific neurons controlling breathing, and magnesium compounds that can improve cognitive ability and how they work. This conversation serves as a sort of "Master Class" on the science of breathing and breathing-related tools for health and performance.  For the full show notes, visit hubermanlab.com.
Actionable Insights

1. Daily Box Breathing Practice

Practice box breathing for 5-20 minutes daily, using a 5-second inhale, 5-second hold, 5-second exhale, 5-second hold (or 10-second intervals), to gain tremendous benefit and combat post-lunch mental lag.

2. Cyclic Hyperventilation for Alertness

Engage in cyclic hyperventilation for about a minute, then exhale and hold your breath for 15-60 seconds, repeating for about five minutes, to potentially increase alertness, reduce stress triggering, and improve cognitive focus.

3. Slow Breathing for Anxiety

If experiencing anxiety and hyperventilation, practice breathing slower to restore CO2 levels back to normal, which can provide relief from anxiety.

4. Nasal Breathe for Memory Recall

When learning new information, practice nasal breathing rather than mouth breathing, as studies suggest it can lead to better memory encoding and recall.

5. Magnesium Threonate for Cognition & Sleep

Consider supplementing with magnesium threonate, which effectively crosses the gut-blood barrier, to potentially improve cognitive function, slow cognitive decline, and enhance sleep quality. Start with a half dose to assess tolerance and blood magnesium levels.

6. Restore Energy with NSDR

Utilize Yoga Nidra or Non-Sleep Deep Rest (NSDR) protocols, even for a short 10-minute session, to greatly restore levels of cognitive and physical energy.

7. Morning & Exercise Electrolytes

Dissolve one packet of Element in 16-32 ounces of water first thing in the morning and during physical exercise to ensure adequate hydration and electrolytes for optimal brain and body function.

8. Daily Nutritional Support

Consider taking Athletic Greens once or twice a day to cover basic nutritional needs, make up for deficiencies, and support microbiome health with probiotics.

9. Supplement Vitamin D3 K2

Supplement with Vitamin D3 and K2, as D3 is essential for brain and body health (many are deficient), and K2 regulates cardiovascular function and calcium in the body.

10. Explore Expert Breathwork Training

Consider joining Our Breathwork Collective to learn or teach breathwork, as it offers daily live guided sessions, an on-demand library, and free workshops developed by experts like Dr. Feldman.