This episode my guest is Dr. Jack Feldman, Distinguished Professor of Neurobiology at the University of California, Los Angeles and a pioneering world expert in the science of respiration (breathing). We discuss how and why humans breathe the way we do, the function of the diaphragm and how it serves to increase oxygenation of the brain and body. We discuss how breathing influences mental state, fear, memory, reaction time, and more. And we discuss specific breathing protocols such as box-breathing, cyclic hyperventilation (similar to Wim Hof breathing), nasal versus mouth breathing, unilateral breathing, and how these each affect the brain and body. We discuss physiological sighs, peptides expressed by specific neurons controlling breathing, and magnesium compounds that can improve cognitive ability and how they work. This conversation serves as a sort of "Master Class" on the science of breathing and breathing-related tools for health and performance. For the full show notes, visit hubermanlab.com.Thank you to our sponsorsAG1: https://athleticgreens.com/hubermanLMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/hubermanlabWaking Up: https://wakingup.com/hubermanMomentous: https://livemomentous.com/hubermanTimestamps

Introducing Dr. Jack Feldman

Sponsors: LMNT & Waking Up

Why We Breathe

Neural Control of Breathing: “Pre-Botzinger Complex”

Nose vs Mouth Breathing

Skeletal vs. Smooth Muscles: Diaphragm, Intracostals & Airway Muscles

Two Breathing Oscillators: Pre-Botzinger Complex & Parafacial Nucleus

How We Breathe Is Special (Compared to Non-Mammals)

Stomach & Chest Movements During Breathing

Physiological Sighs, Alveoli Re-Filling, Bombesin

If We Don’t Sigh, Our Lung (& General) Health Suffers

Breathing, Brain States & Emotions

Meditating Mice, Eliminating Fear

Brain States, Amygdala, Locked-In Syndrome, Laughing

Facial Expressions

Locus Coeruleus & Alertness

Breath Holds, Apnea, Episodic Hypoxia, Hypercapnia

Stroke, Muscle Strength, TBI

Cyclic Hyperventilation

Hyperbaric Chambers

Nasal Breathing, Memory, Right vs. Left Nostril

Breathing Coordinates Everything: Reaction Time, Fear, etc.

Dr. Feldman’s Breathwork Protocols, Post-Lunch

Deliberately Variable Breathwork: The Feldman Protocol

Magnesium Threonate & Cognition & Memory

Gratitude for Dr. Feldman’s Highly Impactful Work