Goodbye and thank you
Take a deep breath. This is a special editorial – at least for me, because it will be my last. I'm not one of those people who shake lyrics out of their sleeves. Writing is my craft, no muse kisses. But this time I feel more respect for the blank page. The title theme, to which I may refer, is an extremely rewarding one: breathing is part of us like sleeping, eating, drinking. Everyone is "affected," and we can give you reasoned advice on how to breathe he althier (p. 22). Before that, the neuroscientist Detlef Heinz Heck from the University of Tennessee will introduce you to the amazing connections between breathing and brain activity from page 12 onwards. I know from countless feedback that many of you particularly appreciate this type of article based on the current state of research. And then there is the fascination factor. In the interview starting on page 20, the two-time freediving world champion Guillaume Néry reports on a feeling of deepest inner peace when he glides down well over 100 meters with just one breath. I invite you now to dive into the cover story yourself!
But I would like to say thank you even more: to wonderful authors, without whom "Gehirn&Geist" would have been doomed to failure since it was founded in 2002. With my creative, tireless team, which tries to make every issue a little bit better in terms of image and text. And last but not least you, dear readers, for your interest in our interdisciplinary magazine and your loy alty. I have had the privilege of getting to know some of you over the years by letter, e-mail, on the phone or even in person; there were many very valuable encounters.
It was an honor and a pleasure. My farewell after 18 years "Gehirn&Geist" is self-chosen, I'm leaving for new shores. From the next issue my successor Daniel Lingenhöhl will be responsible for the fortunes - I wish him and the editors, who will remain unchanged, a fine sense for important and surprising topics! And now once more: take a deep breath.
Best regards
Carsten Könneker
