Scientists first began recording waveform electrical activity of the heart by measuring voltage changes during heartbeats with the invention of the electrocardiogram (ECG) in 1902. In 1963 the magneto cardiogram (MCG) machine was developed, which provides a map of the magnetic field over the chest generated from the flow of electrical currents during each heartbeat.

Researchers at the HeartMath Institute propose that psychophysiological information can be embedded into the electromagnetic fields produced by the heart. The nervous system acts like an antenna, responding to these rhythmic patterns and electronic impulses. The heart’s magnetic field encodes a person’s emotional state and communicates this throughout the body and to the external environment affecting the nervous systems of other people and animals.

The heart is closely tied to emotions, and our emotional experiences leave energetic imprints within the heart’s cells and electromagnetic field, influencing its overall health. Although the heart lacks a centralised memory centre like the brain, individual heart cells (cardiomyocytes) retain information. These cells “remember” their function, rhythm, and interactions with neighbouring cells and can adapt to changes, such as alterations in workload or stress.

The brain is not fixed, it can be shaped, moulded, or altered throughout life. This is called Neuroplasticity and is the brain’s capacity to continue growing and evolving by creating new neural connections and reorganising existing ones. It adapts based on learning, environmental influences, and even adjusts our thinking patterns. The conscious mind provides the intention, desire, and decision-making and the subconscious the ability to shape our beliefs, behaviours, and predict danger.

The subconscious mind...

• Forms most of our core beliefs during the ages of 2 and 7, when learning occurs subconsciously. These inputs whether cultural, familial, or experiential form the foundation of our character and beliefs.

• Is responsible for 95% of our behaviour and decisions and that it can scan information at lightning speed.

• Doesn’t distinguish between real and imagined experiences. Research has shown that our brain has the same response whether you physically practice a skill or simply imagine doing it.

• Operates in the present moment, and it doesn’t differentiate between past, present, or future.

• Doesn’t concern itself with logic or rationality. It operates on a different wavelength, responding to emotions, beliefs, and imagery. When we set intentions or desires, the subconscious focuses on creating what we truly want. So, even if it seems illogical, trust that your subconscious is working behind the scenes to align your reality with your desires.

• Contains "your version of the truth" such as limitations and beliefs which are not necessarily true. The subconscious remains vigilant, absorbing everything and has no mind of its own, it believes what you feed it.

• Can be programmed with repetition. By consistently reinforcing positive thoughts, beliefs, and intentions, we can gradually reshape our inner landscape.

Amygdala - The emotional centre which coordinates emotional responses:

• The amygdala plays a critical role in processing emotions and emotional reactions. It acts as our brain’s alarm system, continuously assessing potential threats and guiding our behaviour accordingly. When it detects danger, it triggers the fight-or-flight response, influencing how we react to potentially hazardous situations.

• One function of the amygdala is organising patterns that become “familiar” to the brain. If heart rhythm patterns are incoherent during early life, the amygdala learns to expect disharmony as the baseline. Paradoxically, we may feel “at home” with this internal incoherence, even though it causes discomfort. Based on what is familiar to the amygdala, the frontal cortex makes decisions about appropriate behaviour in various situations. Thus, subconscious emotional memories and associated physiological patterns profoundly shape our perceptions, emotional reactions, thought processes, and behaviour.

Hippocampus - The memory centre which attaches emotions to memories:

• The hippocampus plays a pivotal role in memory formation and consolidation. When we encounter new experiences, it coordinates the encoding of those experiences, ensuring that episodic memories are associated with emotions and effectively stored in long-term memory.

Cerebral Cortex - Crucial for thinking about emotions:

• The cerebral cortex, also known as grey matter, plays a crucial role in our emotional processes because when we feel an emotion, we also think about that emotion. Its key functions encompass interpreting emotions, expressing how you feel by coordinating facial expressions, gestures, vocal tones, and fostering empathy. This outer layer of neural tissue contributes to our consciousness, memory, reasoning, language, and higher-level cognitive processes.

• The human brain contains around 86 billion neurons, each connected to thousands of others, forming a vast neural network. This complexity allows us to think, feel, and experience the world.

• Synapses are the connections between neurons. An average adult brain has trillions of synapses, allowing for rapid communication and information processing.

• Although the brain represents only about 2% of an adult’s body weight, it consumes approximately 20% of the body’s energy.

• While we sleep, our brain remains active. Dreams occur during the REM (rapid eye movement) phase of sleep, and they serve various purposes, including memory consolidation and emotional processing.

• Mirror neurons fire both when we perform an action and when we observe someone else doing the same action. They play a role in empathy and understanding others’ intentions.

• The brain can rewire itself in response to learning, experiences, and even injury, this is called Neuroplasticity.

• The brain and heart engage in a dynamic conversation through the vagus nerve which carries signals bidirectionally.