How Breathing Shapes the Mind: Interoception and the Power of the Nose I E5: PhD, Andrea Zaccaro

What if the simple act of slowing your breath could rewire your brain - shifting how you focus, feel, and even perceive reality? In this episode, Patrick talks with Dr. Andrea Zaccaro, neuroscientist and psychologist at the University of Chieti–Pescara, whose research is redefining how breathing interacts with the brain and body.

They unpack the emerging science of slow nasal breathing, interoception, and how the nervous system listens to every inhale and exhale you take.

 

You’ll learn:

• Why breathing through your nose activates hidden brain circuits that mouth breathing can’t

• How slow breathing boosts parasympathetic dominance, calm, and emotional control

• Why your exhale may be the key to deeper body awareness and self-regulation

• How certain breathing frequencies synchronize brain networks linked to focus and mindfulness

• The link between breathing, meditation, and psychedelic states - and what happens when the brain “loses its sense of self”

• Why breathwork isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution - and how to tailor it to your unique nervous system

 

This episode takes you from the nasal cavity to the edges of consciousness, exploring how every breath you take shapes your mind, emotions, and the story of who you are.