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Science of the HeartNew!

Exploring the Role of the Heart in Human Performance

An Overview of Research Conducted by the HeartMath Institute

Science of the Heart

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Science of the HeartNew!

Exploring the Role of the Heart in Human Performance

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Introduction

New research shows the human heart is much more than an efficient pump that sustains life. Our research suggests the heart also is an access point to a source of wisdom and intelligence that we can call upon to live our lives with more balance, greater creativity and enhanced intuitive capacities. All of these are important for increasing personal effectiveness, improving health and relationships and achieving greater fulfillment.

This overview will explore intriguing aspects of the science of the heart, much of which is still relatively not well known outside the fields of psychophysiology and neurocardiology. We will highlight research that bridges the science of the heart and the highly practical, research-based skill set known as the HeartMath System.


The heart has been considered the source of emotion, courage and wisdom for centuries. For more than 33 years, the HeartMath Institute Research Center has explored the physiological mechanisms by which the heart and brain communicate and how the activity of the heart influences our perceptions, emotions, intuition and health. Early on in our research we asked, among other questions, why people experience the feeling or sensation of love and other regenerative emotions as well as heartache in the physical area of the heart. In the early 1990s, we were among the first to conduct research that not only looked at how stressful emotions affect the activity in the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and the hormonal and immune systems, but also at the effects of emotions such as appreciation, compassion and care. Over the years, we have conducted many studies that have utilized many different physiological measures such as EEG (brain waves), SCL (skin conductance), ECG (heart), BP (blood pressure) and hormone levels, etc. Consistently, however, it was heart rate variability, or heart rhythms that stood out as the most dynamic and reflective indicator of one’s emotional states and, therefore, current stress and cognitive processes. It became clear that stressful or depleting emotions such as frustration and overwhelm lead to increased disorder in the higher-level brain centers and autonomic nervous system and which are reflected in the heart rhythms and adversely affects the functioning of virtually all bodily systems. This eventually led to a much deeper understanding of the neural and other communication pathways between the heart and brain. We also observed that the heart acted as though it had a mind of its own and could significantly influence the way we perceive and respond in our daily interactions. In essence, it appeared that the heart could affect our awareness, perceptions and intelligence. Numerous studies have since shown that heart coherence is an optimal physiological state associated with increased cognitive function, self-regulatory capacity, emotional stability and resilience.

We now have a much deeper scientific understanding of many of our original questions that explains how and why heart activity affects mental clarity, creativity, emotional balance, intuition and personal effectiveness. Our and others’ research indicates the heart is far more than a simple pump. The heart is, in fact, a highly complex information-processing center with its own functional brain, commonly called the heart brain, that communicates with and influences the cranial brain via the nervous system, hormonal system and other pathways. These influences affect brain function and most of the body’s major organs and play an important role in mental and emotional experience and the quality of our lives.

In recent years, we have conducted a number of research studies that have explored topics such as the electrophysiology of intuition and the degree to which the heart’s magnetic field, which radiates outside the body, carries information that affects other people and even our pets, and links people together in surprising ways. We also launched the Global Coherence Initiative (GCI), which explores the interconnectivity of humanity with Earth’s magnetic fields.

This overview discusses the main findings of our research and the fascinating and important role the heart plays in our personal coherence and the positive changes that occur in health, mental functions, perception, happiness and energy levels as people practice the HeartMath techniques. Practicing the techniques increases heart coherence and one’s ability to self-regulate emotions from a more intuitive, intelligent and balanced inner reference. This also explains how coherence is reflected in our physiology and can be objectively measured.

The discussion then expands from physiological coherence to coherence in the context of families, workplaces and communities. Science of the Heart concludes with the perspective that being responsible for and increasing our personal coherence not only improves personal health and happiness, but also feeds into and influences a global field environment. It is postulated that as increasing numbers of people add coherent energy to the global field, it helps strengthen and stabilize mutually beneficial feedback loops between human beings and Earth’s magnetic fields.

Science of the Heart - Vol. 2 (Booklet) is rated 4.8 out of 5 by 12.
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Love it Really love this! But when I was about to download it it says that the file is broken, i feel so unhappy, i so much whan to read it and print it out.
Date published: 2023-02-25
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Very readable science I needed this book to understand what my heart is telling me via Inner Balance biometrics during my sessions. I still have questions but this book helped a lot.
Date published: 2020-12-20
Rated 5 out of 5 by from considered my msg it's important! I didn't read the whole research, but my question is if heard is more than the pump and has its own brain then what happend with new heart machine transpant? the person who do heart transplant, if there is artificial heart then how your persumption satisfy that that logic that heart is more than a pump? hope you get my point.
Date published: 2020-12-07
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Quan said this 1500 years ago. Thanks to writer and researchers, I read in Quran that heart can make decisions and memorize , that is why I was worried about that verses because these are function of heart. But now I am satisfied and happy.
Date published: 2020-06-22
Rated 5 out of 5 by from great job done its excellent book EVERYBODY NEED TO UNDERSTAND SO NICE ONE
Date published: 2020-06-04
Rated 5 out of 5 by from thorough and informative :) I value good health as I age and this information about HRV(heart rate variability) was enlightening and encouraging, placing responsibility in my hands and thus giving me hope and understanding. I am in the healing arts so this information was extremely useful to me and for sharing with my clients.
Date published: 2019-11-10
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Transformational! This new edition is formatted to share the science behind the power of the heart. I've expanded my perception of the heart - not only is it warm and "feel-good" - it's a source of inner strength, wisdom, and power that I can choose to harness any where, any time! This should be required reading in nursing schools, medical schools...and introduce the basics in elementary school as part of Common Core? What is more of a common core than our heart? And what a gift for children - emotional self-awareness, self-regulation and resilience. Wow - wish I had learned this many decades ago.
Date published: 2017-02-24
Rated 4 out of 5 by from LOVE IT I was researching "intuitive knowing", "gut instinct" and "heart knowledge" and LOOK AT THIS!! Fascinating. I love the detail, but then I am a bit of a bio-neuro-psych nerd. I need this in paper copy so I can highlight, underline and bookmark for future reference.
Date published: 2016-12-26
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