Washington, Sept. 9 (SANA) Human perception, emotion and the sense of self may be shaped by continuous rhythmic interactions between the brain and signals generated by the heart, breathing and other bodily systems, a new scientific review suggests.
Researchers led by the University of California, Santa Barbara reviewed evidence on how cardiac, respiratory and gastric rhythms interact with neural activity, according to research published in Neuroscience of Consciousness.
The review found that bodily rhythms can affect when groups of neurons become more or less receptive to information, potentially influencing perception, emotion and bodily awareness. Previous studies found that people may recognize previously seen images better during inhalation than exhalation, while frightening images may reach conscious awareness faster during the contraction phase of the heartbeat.
Researchers said the timing and degree of synchronization between the brain and bodily systems may be more important than heart rate, breathing rate or brain activity considered separately. Altered patterns of this interaction have also been observed in conditions including anxiety and depression.
The findings support a view of consciousness in which the brain and body function as an interconnected system, with bodily rhythms helping shape subjective experience.
The review, “I sync, therefore I am: brain–body synchrony in typical and disordered consciousness,” was authored by Asa Young, Marissa Ericson and Jonathan W. Schooler.
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