Our Unique Breath
- Matt Roth
- Jun 14
- 2 min read
Updated: Jun 15

I came across the article, “Each Person Has a Unique ‘Breath Print,’ Scientists Find” in The New York Times, summarizing a study published this week in Current Biology by researchers at the Weizmann Institute of Science. They found that each person may have a unique “breath print,” much like a fingerprint. In the study, researchers were able to accurately distinguish between the breath patterns of 100 volunteers 90% of the time. Remarkably, those same individuals' breath patterns remained identifiable in a follow-up two years later.
What stood out even more, for our purposes, is that certain quirks in breath patterns were linked to higher self-reported anxiety and depression on questionnaires. For instance, one person might consistently pause before an inhale, while others might show more irregular patterns. People who scored high on depression tended to have quick, sharp exhales. Perhaps one day this can be a useful aide in psychological assessment. This is an potentially exciting, but far off, possibility.
Reading this reminded me of one of the core benefits of mindfulness: getting off “autopilot” and becoming more aware of our internal and external experiences. Breathing is unique in that it’s governed by the autonomic nervous system, yet we still have the ability to consciously influence it. Humans have been working with the breath for thousands of years across ancient traditions. In fact, in many languages, the same word is used for both “breath” and “spirit.” The connection between breath and emotional well-being isn’t new, and the power of slow, intentional breathing has been recognized for millennia.
For those interested in exploring breathwork, a great starting point is the “slow and low” 10-second breath, using your diaphragm (also known as belly breathing). If you're looking to engage your parasympathetic nervous system, often called the “rest and digest” mode, start by making your exhale longer than your inhale. This helps activate the vagus nerve, which plays a central role in triggering the body’s natural relaxation response. A simple pattern is inhaling for 4 seconds and exhaling for 6.
I made a short guided exercise you can access on Insight Timer.
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