THE ROLE OF PRANAYAMA IN MODULATING NEUROPLASTICITY AND EMOTIONAL RESILIENCE: A CONTROLLED EEG STUDY

The growing global burden of stress and anxiety calls for simple, cost-effective solutions that strengthen brain adaptability and resilience. This study examined the role of structured breathing practices in enhancing neuroplasticity and emotional recovery, with a focus on low-resource settings such as India where stress-related symptoms affect nearly 20 percent of the population. The objective was to assess how slow deep breathing, paced inhalation, and alternating nostril breathing influence brain plasticity, emotion control, stress reduction, and resilience. A descriptive design based on secondary data from 105 valid sources was applied, supported by correlation and regression analysis. Results showed that slow deep breathing reduced stress by up to 22 percent and had a significant regression coefficient of 0.224, paced inhalation improved emotion control by 19 percent with a coefficient of 0.278, and alternating nostril breathing produced the strongest outcomes with a resilience gain of 25 percent and a coefficient of 0.316. The overall regression model explained 69 percent of the variance, while the highest correlation coefficient of 0.846 confirmed the strength of nostril breathing in balancing hemispheric activity. These findings demonstrate that structured breathing is a reliable predictor of adaptability and resilience, with practical implications for schools, workplaces, and health systems. The study recommends integrating breathing programs into policies and organizational strategies to reduce stress and enhance productivity.