It is increasingly being recognized that active control of breathing - a key aspect of ancient Vedic meditative practices, can relieve stress and anxiety and improve cognition. However, the underlying mechanisms of respiratory modulation of neurophysiology are just beginning to be elucidated. Research shows that brainstem circuits involved in the motor control of respiration receive input from and can directly modulate activity in subcortical circuits, affecting emotion and arousal. Meanwhile, brain regions involved in the sensory aspects of respiration, such as the olfactory bulb, are like-wise linked with wide-spread brain oscillations; and perturbing olfactory bulb activity can significantly affect both mood and cognition. Thus, via both motor and sensory pathways, there are clear mechanisms by which brain activity is entrained to the respiratory cycle. Here, we review evidence gathered across multiple species demonstrating the links between respiration, entrainment of brain activity and functional relevance for affecting mood and cognition. We also discuss further linkages with cardiac rhythms, and the potential translational implications for biorhythm monitoring and regulation in neuropsychiatric disorders.

中文翻译：

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呼吸调节和与神经认知回路的相互作用。

人们越来越多地认识到，主动控制呼吸——古代吠陀冥想练习的一个关键方面，可以缓解压力和焦虑，并提高认知能力。然而，神经生理学呼吸调节的潜在机制才刚刚开始被阐明。研究表明，参与呼吸运动控制的脑干回路接收来自皮层下回路的输入并可以直接调节皮层下回路的活动，从而影响情绪和觉醒。同时，涉及呼吸感觉方面的大脑区域，例如嗅球，同样与广泛的大脑振荡有关；令人不安的嗅球活动会显着影响情绪和认知。因此，通过运动和感觉通路，大脑活动被引入呼吸循环有明确的机制。在这里，我们回顾了在多个物种中收集的证据，证明了呼吸、大脑活动的夹带和影响情绪和认知的功能相关性之间的联系。我们还讨论了与心律的进一步联系，以及对生物节律监测和神经精神疾病调节的潜在转化意义。