Nasal cycle dominance and hallucinations in an adult schizophrenic female

Psychiatry Res. 2015 Mar 30;226(1):289-94. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2014.12.065. Epub 2015 Jan 13.

Abstract

Nasal dominance, at the onset of hallucinations, was studied as a marker of both the lateralized ultradian rhythm of the autonomic nervous system and the tightly coupled ultradian rhythm of alternating cerebral hemispheric dominance in a single case study of a schizophrenic female. Over 1086 days, 145 hallucination episodes occurred with left nostril dominance significantly greater than the right nostril dominant phase of the nasal cycle. A right nostril breathing exercise, that primarily stimulates the left hemisphere, reduces symptoms more quickly for hallucinations.

Keywords: Kundalini Yoga; Nostril dominance; Unilateral forced nostril breathing.

MeSH terms

  • Activity Cycles / physiology
  • Adult
  • Autonomic Nervous System / physiology*
  • Central Nervous System / physiology*
  • Dominance, Cerebral / physiology*
  • Female
  • Functional Laterality / physiology*
  • Hallucinations
  • Humans
  • Nasal Cavity / physiology*
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Respiration
  • Yoga