Table of Contents
- 1 Discovery and the ability to control
- 2 The yoga rascal
- 3 In Italy 2 million minors with mental health problems
- 4 **Given the potential for a “yoga pill” based on this discovery, should we prioritize developing pharmaceutical solutions over promoting accessible mindfulness and breathing techniques?** This question encourages debate about the ethics of medicalization versus accessible self-care practices.
We all know that by slowing down our breathing we can also calm our emotions, but until now it has been impossible to understand the mechanism behind this link. Now, The brain circuit that links voluntary breathing to a person’s state of mind has finally been identified. Researchers led by the Salk Institute in La Jolla, California have identified a group of brain cells in the frontal cortex of mice, involved in planning complex behaviors, which connects to the brainstem, where vital actions such as breathing are controlled.
Discovery and the ability to control
The study, published in the journal Nature Neuroscience, offers new tools to control panic attacks, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder. The researchers coordinated by Sung Han conducted several experiments in search of connections between the center of the brain stem that regulates breathing and other areas of the brain: they thus identified a new circuit, which they tested by recording the brain activity of mice during behaviors that alter breathingsuch as smelling, swimming and drinking, and during situations that generated fear or anxiety. The results confirm that, when the circuit is active, the animals are calmer and breathe more slowly, while in stressful situations the connection decreases and the breathing frequency increases.
The yoga rascal
“I want use these findings to design a sort of ‘yoga pill‘” says Han. “It may seem silly, and translating our work into a marketable drug will take years – adds the researcher – but we now have a brain circuit that can become a therapeutic target to instantly slow breathing and promote a state of calm and tranquility.”
In Italy 2 million minors with mental health problems
Anxiety also affects the youngest a lot. Depression, social withdrawal, school refusal, self-harm, eating disorders, suicidal ideation. Around 1 in 7 adolescents worldwide suffer from a diagnosed mental disorder. In Europe, there are more than 11 million minors suffering from a mental health problem and around 2 million in Italy. On the occasion of the World Day of Children and Adolescents on November 20, the experts at the Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital indicate the warning signs to pay attention to and the advice for creating a family environment that promotes the mental health of children. “In the last 10 years, neuropsychiatric consultations at the hospital’s emergency room have increased by 500%” says Stefano Vicari, responsible for the childhood and adolescence neuropsychiatry of Bambino Gesù. The warning signs that parents must pay particular attention to they are “changes, especially when they are sudden and prolonged over time”, explains a note. When a child or adolescent begins to show signs of psychological distress, these are in fact accompanied by emotional and behavioral changes that may concern school performance, with a sudden worsening, the appearance of difficulty sleeping at night, the worsening of eating habits (eating too much, eating little, eating badly), abandoning a sporting activity that was practiced with satisfaction, social withdrawal, accentuated irritability and grumpiness or excessive anhedonia, i.e. the difficulty in feeling pleasure for and things that before they gave Pleasure. “Obviously all adolescents exhibit these patterns of behavior from time to time – clarifies Vicari – But when these attitudes become daily, represent a clear change compared to habitual behavior and last weeks or months, then it is good to ask for help”.
Free pixabay photo
**Given the potential for a “yoga pill” based on this discovery, should we prioritize developing pharmaceutical solutions over promoting accessible mindfulness and breathing techniques?** This question encourages debate about the ethics of medicalization versus accessible self-care practices.
## Decoding Calm: Interview on the Brain Circuit Connecting Breathing and Mood
**Introduction:**
Welcome to World-Today-News. Today, we’re delving into the groundbreaking discovery of a brain circuit linking conscious breathing to our emotional state. Joining us are Dr. Emily Carter, a neuroscientist specializing in anxiety disorders, and Mr. David Miller, a mindfulness and breathing technique instructor.
**Section 1: The Scientific Breakthrough**
* **Interviewer:** Dr. Carter, can you elaborate on the significance of this discovery published in *Nature Neuroscience*? What makes it a game-changer in understanding the mind-body connection?
* **Interviewer:** This study focuses on the frontal cortex and brainstem connection in mice. How applicable are these findings to human brains? Are there any limitations we should consider?
**Section 2: Implications for Mental Health**
* **Interviewer:** David, you work with individuals struggling with anxiety and stress. How do you see this new understanding of breathing’s impact on the brain influencing your approach to helping people?
* **Interviewer:** Dr. Carter, the article mentions the potential for developing therapies based on this finding, even a “yoga pill.” What are your thoughts on translating this research into practical treatments for conditions like panic attacks and PTSD? What are the ethical considerations involved?
**Section 3: Breathing Techniques and Mindfulness**
* **Interviewer:** David, for individuals who are not scientists, how can they practically incorporate the principles of this discovery into their daily lives? Are there specific breathing techniques that can be beneficial?
* **Interviewer:** Dr. Carter, we know that the younger generation is facing escalating mental health challenges. How can parents and educators encourage mindful breathing practices among children and adolescents? Can these techniques help prevent or alleviate early signs of anxiety and stress?
**Section 4: Looking Ahead**
* **Interviewer:** What are the next steps in this research? What further investigations are needed to fully unlock the potential of this groundbreaking discovery?
* **Interviewer:** Dr. Carter and Mr. Miller, what message would you like to leave our viewers with today regarding the power of breath and its connection to our overall well-being?
This guideline for an interview aims to create an informative and engaging discussion by:
* **Using open-ended questions:** Encourage in-depth responses and diverse perspectives.
* **Focusing on key topics:** Cover the scientific aspects, practical applications, and ethical implications.
* **Structuring the interview thematically:** Divide the discussion into manageable sections for clarity.
Let me know if you have any other requests or if there are specific areas you’d like to focus on more deeply.
