Have you ever wondered why, in stressful situations, people will often tell you to "just breathe"? As it turns out, not only does taking deep breaths calm you down, a recent study has shown that how you breathe affects both your memory recall and emotional judgment. A 2016 study conducted by scientists at Northwestern University, breathing is "not just for oxygen, but is now linked to brain function and behavior." One interesting discovery that the scientists made during the study was identifying differences in brain activity during inhalation and exhalation, with inhalation showing marked effects on the brain. "When you breathe in, we discovered you are stimulating neurons in the olfactory cortex, amygdala, and hippocampus, all across the limbic systems", said the lead author of the study, Christina Zelano. During the study, scientists conducted a few experiments. "In an experiment aimed at assessing memory function - tied to the hippocampus - subjects were shown pictures of objects on a computer screen and told to remember them. Later, they were asked to recall those objects. Researchers found that recall was better if the images were encountered during inhalation." Check out the video from the study:

So, what implications does this have on student learning? As educators, we are forced to combat those external factors that may inhibit or disrupt the learning process. Oftentimes, students are dealing with personal issues that may make it difficult for them to focus in class. Or even becoming over-excited, especially for children, can make it hard for teachers to get through their lessons. Whatever the case, helping students become more aware of their breathing can provide many benefits, including "better self-control, anxiety management, concentration, and mental focus". Here is the CUTEST example:

Although I haven't tried this with my students yet, I try to become more conscious of my own breathing, particularly during stressful moments. And to my surprise, it actually helps! To yogis, singers, health professionals and others, this is no new concept. But it would be interesting to see if student performance improves even slightly as a result of teaching them simple breathing techniques in the traditional classroom. 

And, for your listening pleasure...because it's 2018 and this song is still the epitome of "chill out" music. Just breathe...