Various studies have found out that the electric activities in our brain which are responsible for the sensations like smell, memory, and emotions are coordinated the rhythm of our breathing.
Although the primary function of respiration is to supply oxygen to the brain and body, the organization of cells which carry out various functions in the brain is also carried out by our breathing patterns.
Researchers, hence, have found out that the brain waves are associated with breathing and the size and frequency of these waves depend on the amount of air passing through our nostrils only.
The main regions of the brain that are affected by breathing pattern are piriform cortex, hippocampus, and amygdala. And according to the studies done, these regions are highly synchronized during the process of inhalation as compared to during exhalation.
In addition, the diversion in breathing decreases the coupling of the brain wave. This explains that it is the air entering through the nose which synchronizes the activity of neurons in different parts of the brain.
Since the emotions, memory, and thought process are all dependent on the functionality of the brain, the breathing pattern has a role to play in influencing our thought process and modulating emotions and memory.
This has been already proved that our thought process has a direct effect on our breathing pattern, as the patterns of our breath are the response of emotional stimuli and mental effort.
Ever wondered why we start breathing rapidly when we are scared? This is due to the optimization of information processing in the brain to make us think and act quickly and appropriately in certain circumstances.