Science of the Heart

Science of the Heart

HeartMathInstitute

Science of The Heart:Exploring the Role of the Heart in Human Performance An Overview of Research Conducted by the Institute of HeartMath Sign up for free or log in to download this 70 page e-book. Click here. Introduction Heart-Rate Variability Entrainment, Coherence & Autonomic Balance Head-Heart Interactions Emotional Balance & Health Music Research HeartMath Technology in Business HeartMath in Education Clinical Research Assessment Services Scientific Advisory Board & Physics of Humanity Council Bibliography Introduction For centuries, the heart has been considered the source of emotion, courage and wisdom. At the Institute of HeartMath (IHM) Research Center, we are exploring the physiological mechanisms by which the heart communicates with the brain, thereby influencing information processing, perceptions, emotions and health. We are asking questions such as: Why do people experience the feeling or sensation of love and other positive emotional states in the area of the heart and what are the physiological ramifications of these emotions? How do stress and different emotional states affect the autonomic nervous system, the hormonal and immune systems, the heart and brain? Over the years we have experimented with different psychological and physiological measures, but it was consistently heart rate variability, or heart rhythms, that stood out as the most dynamic and reflective of inner emotional states and stress. It became clear that negative emotions lead to increased disorder in the heart’s rhythms and in the autonomic nervous system, thereby adversely affecting the rest of the body. In contrast, positive emotions create increased harmony and coherence in heart rhythms and improve balance in the nervous system. The health implications are easy to understand: Disharmony in the nervous system leads to inefficiency and increased stress on the heart and other organs while harmonious rhythms are more efficient and less stressful to the body’s systems.  More intriguing are the dramatic positive changes that occur when techniques are applied that increase coherence in rhythmic patterns of heart rate variability. These include shifts in perception and the ability to reduce stress and deal more effectively with difficult situations. We observed that the heart was acting as though it had a mind of its own and was profoundly influencing the way we perceive and respond to the world. In essence, it appeared that the heart was affecting intelligence and awareness.  The answers to many of our original questions now provide a scientific basis to explain how and why the heart affects mental clarity, creativity, emotional balance and personal effectiveness. Our research and that of others indicate that the heart is far more than a simple pump. The heart is, in fact, a highly complex, self-organized information processing center with its own functional "brain" that communicates with and influences the cranial brain via the nervous system, hormonal system and other pathways. These influences profoundly affect brain function and most of the body’s major organs, and ultimately determine the quality of life. Figure 1. Innervation of the major organs by the autonomic nervous system (ANS). Parasympathetic fibers pass through the cranium and sacrum; sympathetic fibers are associated with the thoracic and lumbar vertebrae. Proper functioning of the ANS is critical for the maintenance of health, while a number of health problems are associated with ANS dysfunction or imbalance. Emotions greatly affect the activity of the ANS and the balance between the two branches. For example, anger causes increased sympathetic activity and reduced parasympathetic. Constriction of the arteries resulting from excessive sympathetic stimulation can contribute to hypertension and heart attacks. Compiled by Rollin McCraty, Mike Atkinson and Dana Tomasino. HeartMath Research Center, Institute of HeartMath, Publication No. 01-001. Boulder Creek, CA, 2001. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be translated or reproduced in any form without the written permission of the publisher. HeartMath®, Freeze-Frame®, Heart Lock-In®, Cut-Thru®, and Inner Quality Management® (IQM) are registered trademarks of the Institute of HeartMath. The emWave® PC/Mac Emotional Management Enhancer (FFEME) is a trademark of Quantum Intech. . . . Sign up for free or log in to download this 70 page e-book. Click here. - http://www.heartmath.org/research/science-of-the-heart/introduction.htm