The brain-heart axis – is our heart really in charge?
heart or brain, who’s in charge?
We believe our brain is in charge, but research tells a more fascinating story.
Our heart and brain are in constant communication, but the majority of signals flow from the heart to the brain, not the other way around. Amazingly, the heart’s electromagnetic field, is 5,000x stronger than the brain’s, and measurable a metre away from the body. Our 💙 matters.
Heart–brain communication happens through
The vagus nerve (main parasympathetic nerve)
Hormonal and electrical signals
Pressure sensors and mechanoreceptors
So our heart isn’t just a pump, it’s a sensory and processing organ with over 40,000 neurons (the heart brain).
Heart neurons send real-time updates to the brain
This happens expecially to the
Amygdala (emotional memory)
Thalamus (sensory relay)
Prefrontal cortex (decision-making, focus, reasoning)
When our heart is in a coherent rhythm — a smooth, stable pattern typically achieved in states of calm, compassion, or gratitude — the brain entrains to this signal.
This boosts
Emotional regulation
Cognitive clarity
Stress resilience
Hormonal balance, including cortisol
negative emotions
But when emotions like fear, anger, or anxiety cause chaotic heart rhythms, this disorganises brain function and impairs focus, reactivity, and mood.
Heart Rate Variability (HRV) is a key marker of how well our autonomic nervous system is functioning. It reflects the balance between
Sympathetic (fight or flight) tone, and
Parasympathetic (rest and digest) regulation
High HRV = adaptability, calm, and health
Low HRV = stress, inflammation, and higher risk of cardiovascular events
how to shift HRV
Practices like breathwork, gratitude, presence, and even healing unresolved emotion can shift HRV — helping regulate both body and mind.
Our heart isn’t just a responder to stress or thought. It’s a leader.
To access the heart’s power
Regulate your breath
Process emotions
Tune into gratitude
Honour your heart's wisdom
Healing can start in the heart and flow upward.
Science + heart-based healing.