Disordered Breath-Brain Lateralization: At the Core of Schizophrenia Pathogenesis

The nasal cycle, which involves cyclical lateralization of nasal airflow, is associated to cerebral hemisphere dominance. The parasympathetic and sympathetic autonomic nervous system states result from this dominance. These rhythms regulate homeostasis and catecholamine levels by controlling the ergotrophic and trophotrophic basic rest-activity cycle (BRAC) phases. The parasympathetic nervous system is involved in the oligotrophic phase, which reduces heart rate, blood pressure, and respiration and increases digestion and immune function. The trophotropic phase of sympathetic activity increases heart rate, blood pressure, and respiration. Ergotrophic people are more active and aware. Sympathetic dominance causes vasoconstriction and decongestion in one nostril, whereas parasympathetic dominance causes vasodilation and congestion in the other. The hypothalamus' core regulator controls nasal cycle rhythm, causing bilateral vasoconstriction. The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) may generate rhythms in asymmetrically organized organs to cause abnormal brain and body lateralization in schizophrenia. Interrupted nasal cycle variation may cause cerebral hemisphere asymmetry, neurodegeneration, and neurotransmitter dysregulation. These circumstances may cause psychopathology. Brain hypoxia is the main cause.