Scientific research on creatives and creativity
Academic collaborators
02/2026 - ongoing
A HD-EEG study on the effects of high-ventilation breathwork on music perception
Photography by Stefan Hanegraaf
Team
Research
Oliver Durcan, Prof. Tristan Bekinschtein
Operational and Technical
Bianca Mayhew, Oliver Durcan, Shehryar Ahmad, Alejandra Rios, William Russell, Alessandra Denegri
Partners
University of Cambridge, Mastery, MONOM Studios, London Warehouse Events (LWE)
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Background
Does high-ventilation breathwork change how we perceive music? Most breathwork research concentrates on the breathwork period itself. In this case study, we were interested in what comes after; how the residual altered state shapes the music experience that follows. Specifically, how music engagement shifts in the wake of breathwork-induced, psychedelic-adjacent effects.
The work centres on Jon Hopkins’ Embodiment Breathing, a 21-minute breathwork practice and sound meditation with guidance from Fearne Cotton, released by Mastery on Houndstooth Records (vinyl only). The piece combines Breath of Fire and Conscious Connected Breathing, followed by a new ambient composition by Hopkins.
This case study was conducted at MONOM Studios, Berlin in February 2026. All audio elements were spatialised in 4DSOUND by MONOM.
Results
Watch a presentation of the case study results, presented by Oliver Durcan, Director of Creative Empirical. The presentation was featured in the 1st Dance Floor Science Workshop in October 2026.
Does high-ventilation breathwork change how we perceive music? Most breathwork research concentrates on the breathwork period itself. In this case study, we were interested in what comes after; how the residual altered state shapes the music experience that follows. Specifically, how music engagement shifts in the wake of breathwork-induced, psychedelic-adjacent effects.
The work centres on Jon Hopkins’ Embodiment Breathing, a 21-minute breathwork practice and sound meditation with guidance from Fearne Cotton, released by Mastery on Houndstooth Records (vinyl only). The piece combines Breath of Fire and Conscious Connected Breathing, followed by a new ambient composition by Hopkins.
This case study was conducted at MONOM Studios, Berlin in February 2026. All audio elements were spatialised in 4DSOUND by MONOM.
Results
Watch a presentation of the case study results, presented by Oliver Durcan, Director of Creative Empirical. The presentation was featured in the 1st Dance Floor Science Workshop in October 2026.