Our heart and brain maintain a continuous two-way dialogue, each influencing the other’s functioning. Embryologically, the heart begins beating before the anatomical structures of the brain are completely formed. So what causes the heart to beat? The ability of cardiac myocytes, which are the cells that comprise the myocardium, to beat is an intrinsic property of these cells. In fact, myocytes removed from the early heart and grown in culture will beat sporadically, and if they become connected to each other, will then begin to beat rhythmically, in unison. As adults, the signals our heart sends to the brain can influence our perception, emotional processing and higher cognitive functions. For instance, a stressed state causes our heart to race and influences how our brain functions! This system and circuitry is viewed by neurocardiology researchers as the “heart-brain.” Research shows our heart’s magnetic field changes distinctly as we experience different emotions and it may even be registered in people’s brains around us. For example, researchers were able to show that a mother’s brain waves synchronized to that of her baby’s heartbeat when she placed her attention onto her baby’s heart beat. This can be seen from the EEGs below. This may help to explain our ability to sense when others are happy, worried or sad without speaking words. It also theorizes that ‘positive vibes’ may originate from the heart.
With this knowledge, let’s make the intention to put our heart, mind and soul into each small act we perform this week, never underestimate the power of attention and intention!
Written by Student Doctor: Navpreet Singh Badesha ©07/24/2017 All Rights Reserved.
This research was published in the National Library of Medicine: (Article One) (Article Two)
