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Long Exhalation May Make the Brain More Prone to Bold Decisions

A prolonged exhale elevates the disposition to take risks by altering cardiac activity and the brain's sensitivity to rewards

Daniele Morais
September 4, 2026 · 3 min read
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Long Exhalation May Make the Brain More Prone to Bold Decisions
Photo: "My microscope" by Picturepest is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/.

Recent research indicates that the practice of slow breathing, when accompanied by a longer exhale, can directly influence how people evaluate options and take risks.

The observed effect is linked to two physiological changes: first, there is a modification in heart activity; second, the brain shows greater sensitivity to rewards. This combination appears to foster a greater readiness for decisions considered bold.

The findings suggest that by controlling one's breath, it is possible to act upon internal processes that regulate choice evaluation, indicating that a simple adjustment in breathing can have a significant impact on decision-making behavior.

With information from ScienceDaily.

Source: ScienceDaily

#breathing#cognition#decision#risk#neuroscience
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