Short Wave

Your Breathing Pattern Is Like A Fingerprint

Jun 13, 2025 · 8 min · Episode 1290 · 8.5 MB
0:00-8:49

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Take a big inhale through your nose. Now, exhale. Breathing may seem simple, but it's controlled by a complex brain network. Each inhale gives the human brain information about the external world. And now, a new research paper in the journal Current Biology suggests that humans have unique breathing patterns, almost like nasal "fingerprints." Not only that: These unique breathing patterns seem to say a lot about people's physical and mental health.

Questions about the science behind your brain and body? Email us at shortwave@npr.org – we'd love to hear your ideas!

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