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Breathing is behaviour, a unique behaviour that regulates body
chemistry, pH.
Few people, lay or professional, know that (1) breathing
directly regulates body chemistry, including pH, electrolyte balance, blood
flow, haemoglobin chemistry, and kidney function, and that (2) breathing is a
behaviour subject to the same principles of learning as any other behaviour,
including the role of motivation, emotion, attention, perception, and
memory. Bringing together these two
simple facts means bringing together the biological and behavioural sciences in
profoundly practical ways relevant to the lives of millions. It changes the way that we think about
ourselves and our physiology.
Breathing is a
unique behaviour. It points to the in
inseparability of physiology and behaviour, where breathing plays a key role
both in homeostasis from a biological perspective and in self-regulation from a
behavioural perspective. Breathing
behaviour plays both obvious and subtle roles in the regulation of health and
performance. The following
considerations attest to its special place in mediating “unexplained symptoms,”
placebo effects, and the “effects of stress:”
● Breathing is a “perpetual” behaviour. It emerges at all times in all places. ●
Breathing is necessarily woven into
virtually all behavioural topographies.
● Breathing is a trigger for emotions,
memories, thoughts, physical symptoms, senses of self,
and even personality. ● Breathing is a gateway that sets stages,
creates backdrops of meaning, establishes contexts, and changes states. ● Breathing is controlled centrally and
peripherally, and ultimately involves every cell in the body. ● Breathing is voluntary and involuntary,
conscious and unconscious. ● Breathing is critical to homeostasis:
acid-base balance, electrolyte balance, and delivery of oxygen and glucose. ● Breathing is vital to social behaviours such
as verbal communication. ● Breathing is reflexive in nature, although
complex in its relationship with the environment and other behaviours.
Behavioural analysis
and behaviour modification are the foundation of CapnoLearning™, the service that we provide our clients. Behavioural
analysis is about our partnership in your exploration of how you learned to
breathe the way that you do, and in your discovery of how the effects of your
unconscious habits may be influencing your health and performance. Behaviour
modification is about our partnership in your efforts to make changes in
your breathing behaviour consistent with your objectives to improve health and
performance.
Copyrighted by
Behavioral Physiology Institute, |