Your nose may be talking directly to your brain: Scientists uncover a hidden nose-to-brain circuit that could explain why slow breathing calms anxiety

The way you breathe may influence more than your oxygen levels. Scientists have identified a previously unknown pathway connecting the nose to brain regions involved in emotional processing, offering a possible explanation for why slow nasal breathing has long been associated with a calmer state.

In a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) , researchers found that changing the frequency of nasal signals could alter anxiety-like behaviour in mice. Slow nasal stimulation produced calming effects, while faster stimulation had the opposite effect.