Berlin Study Links Deep Breathing to Higher Risk‑Taking

Researchers at the University Medicine Šarite in Berlin conducted a pilot study with 41 healthy adults (average age 25) to examine how a breathing technique—short inhale followed by a prolonged exhale—affects decision‑making. While participants lay in an MRI scanner they chose to accept or reject monetary bets with equal odds of winning or losing.

The results showed that the extended exhalation increased participants' willingness to take risky bets. Physiological measurements recorded slower breathing, heightened parasympathetic activity, and brain imaging revealed greater activation in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex and precuneus, areas involved in evaluating reward value. The findings, published in the journal *Neuron*, suggest that the calming state induced by slow breathing can also shift the brain’s assessment of potential gains, making risky options more attractive. The technique is already used in military and police training to maintain composure under stress, raising questions about its broader impact on judgment.

The study highlights a previously unknown side effect of a widely recommended stress‑reduction practice, indicating that deep‑breathing exercises may influence risk‑related choices beyond their calming benefits.