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Does thinking use more oxygen?

Thread Status: Hello , There was no answer in this thread for more than 60 days.
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According to the literature mental tasks do not increase brain oxygen consumption much. However, oxygen use by the brain is markedly decreased during deep sleep (by 25%) and general anaesthesia (by 50%). So increasing brain activity above the basal level likely has only minimal effect. However, decreasing its activity below that level is definitely worth trying.
 
And similarly... The more you Freedive and hold your breath for a LONG time, the more brain cells you lose, the better you get.

A virtuous cycle!!

 
Reactions: HydroApprentice
this thread was insightful, i think everyone agrees that free diving should be approached with a calm mind.

I believe thinking does affect your performance, but not by physically shortening your breath. It's the self doubt that leads you to surface early. Your brain can easily trick yourself into thinking you may not have sufficient air/ability to stay down long enough. This can easily be countered by reassuring yourself with memories of your training. The readings of your dive watch, or covering distances in the pool.

For example, I was doing a shallow dive of 30 feet, and I felt the irk to breathe at the beginning, I found that very odd because I know I can cover 90+ feet distances in my training. Once i reassured myself, the irk went away.

I also feel in the ocean I have a longer dive time because I am distracted by all the kelp and cool fauna. I don't focus on my breath hold so much and I slip into that meditative state a lot easier.
 
In the ocean one also more distracted, easy to slip into meditative state but also into blackout...
 
Definitely agree Hlanger, however I've never pushed myself too hard while diving. I keep a close eye on my watch. I have a breath hold max record, if during a session I pass the record and I'm feeling confident and good. I push 5 more seconds. then start ascending.
 
Im not a professional but I do what i learned in a course in mindfullness. I simply focus on a "trip through a blackwhole". A bit like the way it looks like when they use the hyperspeed thingy in starwars / startreck ^_^ Work pritty good for me =)
 
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