Cited by 105Neuroscience of respiration and sleepMindfulness and Compassion InterventionsHeart Rate Variability and Autonomic Control

Coupling of respiration and attention via the locus coeruleus: effects of meditation and pranayama.

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Melnychuk, Michael Christopher, Dockree, Paul M., O'Connell, Redmond G., Murphy, Peter R., Balsters, Joshua H., Robertson, Ian H.·2018·Psychophysiology

Abstract

The locus coeruleus (LC) has established functions in both attention and respiration. Good attentional performance requires optimal levels of tonic LC activity, and must be matched to task consistently. LC neurons are chemosensitive, causing respiratory phrenic nerve firing to increase frequency with higher CO 2 levels, and as CO 2 level varies with the phase of respiration, tonic LC activity should exhibit fluctuations at respiratory frequency. Top‐down modulation of tonic LC activity from brain areas involved in attentional regulation, intended to optimize LC firing to suit task requirements, may have respiratory consequences as well, as increases in LC activity influence phrenic nerve firing. We hypothesize that, due to the physiological and functional overlaps of attentional and respiratory functions of the LC, this small neuromodulatory nucleus is ideally situated to act as a mechanism of synchronization between respiratory and attentional systems, giving rise to a low‐amplitude oscillation that enables attentional flexibility, but may also contribute to unintended destabilization of attention. Meditative and pranayama practices result in attentional, emotional, and physiological enhancements that may be partially due to the LC's pivotal role as the nexus in this coupled system. We present original findings of synchronization between respiration and LC activity (via fMRI and pupil dilation) and provide evidence of a relationship between respiratory phase modulation and attentional performance. We also present a mathematical dynamical systems model of respiratory‐LC‐attentional coupling, review candidate neurophysiological mechanisms of changes in coupling dynamics, and discuss implications for attentional theory, meditation, and pranayama, and possible therapeutic applications.

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Authors
Melnychuk, M. C., Dockree, P. M., O'Connell, R. G., Murphy, P. R., Balsters, J. H., & Robertson, I. H.
Affiliations
  • Trinity College Dublin (IE)
  • Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin Dublin Ireland
  • University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (DE)
  • Royal Holloway University of London (GB)
Corresponding author
Melnychuk, Michael Christopher
Venue
Psychophysiology
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2018-04-22
Volume
55
Issue
9
Pages
e13091-e13091
ISSN
  • 0048-5772 (ISSN-L)
  • 1469-8986
OpenAlex
W2799378468
Cited by
101
References
165
Citations by year
2026: 14 · 2025: 18 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 18 · 2021: 14 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 1
FWCI
3.96
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Psychophysiology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Neuroscience of respiration and sleep
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Heart Rate Variability and Autonomic Control
Keywords
locus coeruleus, respiration, attention, meditation, pranayama, phrenic nerve, CO2 chemosensitivity, pupil dilation, attentional flexibility, dynamic system modeling, top-down modulation, attention stability
MeSH terms
Attention, Autonomic Nervous System, Humans, Locus Coeruleus, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Models, Theoretical, Pupil, Respiration, Time Factors, Meditation

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