The heart is has been discovered, can 'think' and has approx ~40,000 neural ganglia. The heart is connected to the brain via the vagus nerve which also innervates the heart with parasympathetic innervation via the sinoatrial node etc. Parasympathetic function indicates calming, regulating etc...to homoeostasis.
Deep, emotional, 'soul-level' thinking occurs in the heart, and is connected to the brain...
There is a state of 'coherance' or synchronicity between the heart and brain that facilitates greater inner harmony, increasing the experience of relaxed-alertness. This has been identified and guaged with software programs and various bio/neurofeedback devices. The 'less coherent' a person is, the worse thier mental/emotional state, performance and state of health; the more coherant a person is, the greater their mental/emotional state, performance - peace and state of health becomes...
"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." (HeartMath 2012)
As Christians I believe, in the Power of God, we should use all tools available to better oneself. Tools such as biofeedback/neurofeedback devices (ie: the emWave PC and/or emWave2 are some fabulous 'no brainer' program/devices) that enable one to train in synchronising heart/brain into greater harmonious coherance and facilitate a state of relaxed alertness contribute significantly to increasing wellbeing and productivity. There are other devices - one can do a google on them; but HeartMath devices I found to be easiest for anyone to use and very useful and accurate. One can train using any good bio/neurofeedback device also in greater autonomic physiological control inc. mind/thought/emotional control - to a significant degree.
We need to disregard any 'philosophical connotations' that may (or may not) be attached to any such useful tools, and have the intelligence and wisdom to discerningly use them 'as tools' that are neutral (they have no religion of thier own LOL) to our advantage.
Science of the Heart, Science of Coherence, Heart Rate Variability, Institute HeartMath
(research in pdf)
http://www.beyondthebarriers.co.uk/wp.../Science_of_the_Heart.pdf
"as a man thinks in his heart, so is he" Prov 23:7
Deep, emotional, 'soul-level' thinking occurs in the heart, and is connected to the brain...
There is a state of 'coherance' or synchronicity between the heart and brain that facilitates greater inner harmony, increasing the experience of relaxed-alertness. This has been identified and guaged with software programs and various bio/neurofeedback devices. The 'less coherent' a person is, the worse thier mental/emotional state, performance and state of health; the more coherant a person is, the greater their mental/emotional state, performance - peace and state of health becomes...
"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." (HeartMath 2012)
As Christians I believe, in the Power of God, we should use all tools available to better oneself. Tools such as biofeedback/neurofeedback devices (ie: the emWave PC and/or emWave2 are some fabulous 'no brainer' program/devices) that enable one to train in synchronising heart/brain into greater harmonious coherance and facilitate a state of relaxed alertness contribute significantly to increasing wellbeing and productivity. There are other devices - one can do a google on them; but HeartMath devices I found to be easiest for anyone to use and very useful and accurate. One can train using any good bio/neurofeedback device also in greater autonomic physiological control inc. mind/thought/emotional control - to a significant degree.
We need to disregard any 'philosophical connotations' that may (or may not) be attached to any such useful tools, and have the intelligence and wisdom to discerningly use them 'as tools' that are neutral (they have no religion of thier own LOL) to our advantage.
Science of the Heart, Science of Coherence, Heart Rate Variability, Institute HeartMath
(research in pdf)
http://www.beyondthebarriers.co.uk/wp.../Science_of_the_Heart.pdf
"as a man thinks in his heart, so is he" Prov 23:7