Freediving Rewires Brains, Enhancing Neural Networks Linked to Memory and Attention, Study Finds

Holding one's breath for extended periods could lead to significant changes in brain function, according to new research. Scientists have found that freedivers, who voluntarily submerge themselves underwater without oxygen, develop notable adaptations in neural networks responsible for attention, movement, and memory.

The study, which uploaded its findings to the pre-print server bioRxiv, observed that freediving training is associated with substantial alterations in how different brain regions communicate. Researchers suggest these adaptations could potentially inform future treatments for neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's disease.

The research paper states, "Freediving training is associated with selective reorganization of hippocampal and large-scale brain networks. These changes are linked to episodic memory performance and may reflect adaptive neuroplastic processes under repeated voluntary hypoxia. Freediving therefore provides a valuable human model for investigating functional brain adaptation and may inform therapeutic interventions to enhance cognitive resilience."

A team from the University of Paris-Saclay conducted the study involving 17 experienced freedivers and 20 individuals who had no freediving experience but maintained a similar age and exercise routine. The freedivers underwent brain scans before and after a seven-month training period, while the control group was scanned once.

During the scans, participants held their breath for up to two minutes, followed by 90 seconds of normal breathing, over four rounds. Memory tests were also administered to all participants.

Analysis of the brain scans revealed significant changes in connectivity across networks related to cognitive control, attention, sensory processing, and movement among the freedivers after their training. Specifically, both sides of the hippocampus exhibited stronger connections with the cerebellum, a brain region known for motor control but increasingly recognized for its role in memory and other cognitive functions.

Concurrently, the connections between the hippocampus and areas involved in processing sensory information and movement weakened. This effect was particularly noticeable when the freedivers were breathing normally. The researchers theorize this pattern indicates the brain may be redirecting its focus from external stimuli to internal processes to preserve memory during the stress of breath-holding.

"Overall, neuroplasticity induced by freediving appears to reflect a unique convergence of sport and hypoxia adaptation," the researchers stated. "This combination led to a functional reorganization that prioritizes internal regulation, memory preservation, and network efficiency. Our data suggests, therefore, that under controlled and repeated exposure, voluntary hypoxia may support neural resilience."

The findings suggest that controlled hypoxic training could offer therapeutic benefits for conditions affecting hippocampal vulnerability, including aging, neurodegeneration, and other hypoxia-related pathologies by harnessing adaptive neuroplasticity.