Abstract
Cortical coherence with breathing is modulated by opening/closing of eyes and ears
Journal of the neurological sciences, Vol.480(Supplement), 124931
12/2025
DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2025.124931
Abstract
Background and aims
Breathing influences brain activity, with recent studies suggesting a link between respiration and neural oscillations. However, how sensory modalities modulate this interaction remains unclear. This study examines EEG-based brain responses to breathing by modulating task-irrelevant sensory inputs in the visual and auditory modalities.
Methods
We recorded EEG from participants under four resting state conditions: (1) eyes open, ears open; (2) eyes open, ears plugged; (3) eyes closed, ears open; and (4) eyes closed, ears plugged. Breathing signals were simultaneously measured to analyze coherence between respiration and EEG activity.
Results
Preliminary findings suggest that reduction of exteroceptive sensory inputs influences the strength and distribution of respiration-related brain activity. EEG coherence with breathing was enhanced in conditions with sensory restriction, particularly when both vision and hearing were blocked. Notably, coherence was dominant in the sensory-specific cortical areas when the corresponding modality was restricted: the ears-closed condition showed higher coherence in the temporal and central regions, while the eyes-closed condition exhibited higher coherence in the occipital region.
Conclusions
These results suggest that task-irrelevant non-specific sensory inputs modulate the neural response to breathing, with reduced sensory input leading to localized increases in respiration-related coherence within the corresponding sensory cortical areas. This study provides insights into the interplay between sensory processing and respiration, with potential implications for the role of breathing in perception and cognition.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Cortical coherence with breathing is modulated by opening/closing of eyes and ears
- Creators
- Youngmin Na - Hallym University Medical CenterSukhbinder Kumar - University of Iowa, NeurosurgeryChristopher Kovach - University of IowaAriane Rhone - University of IowaBrian Dlouhy - University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Abstract
- Publication Details
- Journal of the neurological sciences, Vol.480(Supplement), 124931
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.jns.2025.124931
- ISSN
- 0022-510X
- Publisher
- Elsevier B.V
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 12/2025
- Academic Unit
- Stead Family Department of Pediatrics; Iowa Neuroscience Institute; Neurosurgery
- Record Identifier
- 9985132203702771
Metrics
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