TAP reading note: Comparing the Effects of Square, 4–7-8, and 6 Breaths-per-Minute Breathing Conditions on Heart Rate Variability, CO2 Levels, and Mood
Six-breaths-per-minute conditions increased HRV more than square or 4–7–8 breathing during practice. The experiment did not establish a meaningful mood or blood-pressure benefit; mild over-breathing occurred with the six-breath conditions.
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What the study found
Six-breaths-per-minute conditions increased HRV more than square or 4–7–8 breathing during practice. The experiment did not establish a meaningful mood or blood-pressure benefit; mild over-breathing occurred with the six-breath conditions.
Scope & limitations
84 university students in a counterbalanced within-person experiment.
One session, a narrow student sample, equipment-related missingness and no longer-term outcomes limit interpretation.
Population & sample
84 university students in a counterbalanced within-person experiment.
Exposure or intervention
Four ten-minute conditions, separated by three-minute rests; last five minutes analysed.
Outcomes
ECG-derived HRV, end-tidal carbon dioxide, blood pressure and mood.
Time frame
One laboratory session.
Research funding
Brigham Young University.
Research conflicts of interest
Authors declared no financial or other conflicts of interest.
Reading scope
Published PDF: protocol, results, limitations and declarations. Supplementary analyses were not reproduced.
References
Publication record
TAP-RDN-0080 · v1.0 · English
Author: TAP Editorial Team ·
The Allostasis Project is founded and supported by Resilio.
Record for v1.0 · Updated
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Record integrity & available editions
SHA-256: bef66dc7e0e77c519a538c45e767c3269174ce43f5749bbed8f37db1cb2ef53e
Captured: 2026-11-13T04:11:46.411Z
- v1.0 · 2026-11-13