Effects of Hypoxic Breathwork

Impacts of Rhythmic and Hypoxic Breathwork on EEG, Mood, Sleep, and Physiology

NA · University of California, San Diego · NCT06317259

This study is testing how a week of breathing exercises combined with music and positive messages can affect people's health, stress, and sleep.

Quick facts

PhaseNA
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment75 (estimated)
Ages18 Years to 45 Years
SexAll
SponsorUniversity of California, San Diego (other)
Locations1 site (La Jolla, California)
Trial IDNCT06317259 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This project investigates the physiological and biochemical changes that occur during a week-long practice of hypoxic breathwork combined with music and affirmative messaging. Participants will engage in daily sessions of slow-paced breathing and breath-holding, with high-density EEG recordings taken at the beginning and end of the week to assess brain activity. Additionally, various biological samples and questionnaires will be collected to evaluate the impact of breathwork on overall health, stress levels, and sleep quality. The study aims to explore how breathwork can influence bodily functions and mental well-being.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are healthy adults aged 18-45 who can commit to the breathwork regimen.

Not a fit: Patients with a history of regular breathwork practice or those on psychoactive medications may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could enhance stress management and improve sleep quality for participants.

How similar studies have performed: While breathwork has been explored in various contexts, this specific combination of hypoxic techniques and EEG analysis is relatively novel.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Persons, aged 18-45
* Availability for the duration of the study
* In good general health as revealed by self-report
* Stated willingness and capability to adhere to the breathwork regimen
* Agreement to adhere to Lifestyle Considerations (see section 5.3) throughout study duration
* Provision of signed and dated informed consent form

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Current or past regular breathwork practice
2. Current use of psychoactive medications (e.g., anti-depressants or anxiolytics)
3. Pregnancy
4. Bedtime past 11:30pm or regularly getting less than 6 hours of sleep per night.
5. Feverish illness within 10 days
6. Regular smoker or tobacco user ( \> 1 cigarette, gum or pouch per month)
7. Presence of blood pressure above 140 systolic and/or 90 diastolic, seizure disorder, asthma, or serious cardiac fibrillation disorders.

Where this trial is running

La Jolla, California

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.

View on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Conditions: Hypoxic Breathwork With Music and Affirmative Messaging, Hypoxic Breathwork Only, Music and Affirmative Messaging, Breathwork, Intermittent hypoxia, EEG, Mitochondria, Relaxing

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.