[ELI5] Why can we shift from involuntary to voluntary breathing?
In: Biology
First off, thank you for reminding me that breathing can be manually controlled.
There are three known regions of the brain that are associated with breathing. Near to the brain stem, the medulla and the pons control automatic breathing; the medulla controls breathing as a whole, and the pons smooths it out. This is regulated by levels of arterial CO2, O2, and pH. The brain stem is usually described as an involuntary part of the brain, since it controls basic bodily functions independent of consciousness.
In voluntary breathing, also called pranayama breathing, the focus is shifted away from the brain stem and becomes noticeable in the motor cortex, part of the cerebral cortex. It is associated with higher functions such as speech and singing. It is unclear how this shift occurs, but that it’s vital for higher communicative functions revolving around vocal processes – especially since breathing needs to be manually controlled when speaking.
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