Cardiac coherence
Cardiac coherence is a form of breathing exercise which alternates approximately 5 second-long in and out breaths. It tends to create a synchronization of heart and breath rythms, maximizing heart-rate variability. According to Nashiro et al. (2025),
slow breathing around the baroreflex frequency (6 breath per minute, 0.1 Hz, or 10 s/breath) generally activates parasympathetic vagus nerve activity, suppresses sympathetic/noradrenergic activity, and increases heart rate oscillations. Repeated practice of baroreflex-frequency breathing to increase heart rate oscillations promotes a number of health benefits, including long-term emotional health and positive effects on cardiovascular diseases.[1]
This breathing practice may have additional miscellaneous benefits like potentially delaying or slowing-down the progression of Alzheimer's disease.[1]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Nashiro, K., Cahn, B. R., Choi, P., Lee, H. R. J., Satchi, S., Min, J., Yoo, H. J., Cho, C., Mercer, N., Sordo, L., Head, E., Choupan, J., & Mather, M. (2025). Daily mindfulness practice with and without slow breathing has opposing effects on plasma amyloid beta levels. https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.03.10.25323695