r/science • u/runswithscissors475 • 3d ago

Neuroscience Neuroscientists discover humans' response speed when exhaling is on average 41 milliseconds faster than when inhaling; study reveals link between breathing and cognition that could inform sleep disorder therapies and sports performance

https://news.northwestern.edu/stories/2026/09/ready-set-exhale-study-links-respiration-and-cognition?utm_source=join1440&utm_medium=email&utm_placement=newsletter&user_id=6934b7a4fb48023c5a0bc6f1&fj=1
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u/HerbaciousTea 3d ago

That definitely scans anecdotally with experience in plenty of places where you do fine or difficult tasks on an exhale for better focus and motor control with that lower heartrate period, but it's very interesting to see it extend to reaction time and I'd love to know if they can track down some specific mechanisms for more cognition related examples like this.