Feelings from the Heart: How Our 'Second Brain' Directs Our Emotional Intelligence*

You've probably heard the saying, "Follow your heart." Well, there's a reason people use it to explain why they feel a certain way or choose a specific course of action.

But did you know there's more to it than that?

Believe it or not, although the 'head brain' controls your actions, it's not the only decision-maker. You might be surprised to hear but, according to neuroscience, your Head, Heart, and Gut are each considered a type of "brain."

Each of these three brains is a complex system with billions of neurons. And each is capable of growth, adaptation, and response.*

So, what is the role of your Heart [2nd Brain] in this interconnected system?

Your Heart is closely linked to what you value in life and how you feel. It governs your emotions & feelings. Or, as we like it to call it, it's your 'I Feel' center.

The Heart [2nd Brain]: Center of Emotional Intelligence.

Did you know the heart contains about 40,000 neurons (also known as sensory neurites), all part of the so-called Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)?*¹ These neurons are similar to those found in the brain and play a significant role in how we feel and react.*

What many refer to as 'inspiration,' we like to call 'emotional intelligence.' It comes from your Heart [2nd Brain], the neurological center for processing our emotions, feeling empathy, experiencing courage and confidence, and social interactions.*

The heart can also produce neurotransmitters like dopamine and norepinephrine, which were traditionally thought to be only made by neurons in the brain and ganglia.*²

Dopamine, for instance, is produced in the heart from the amino acid L-tyrosine. This happens through two main steps:

→ First, an enzyme called tyrosine-hydroxylase helps start the production of dopamine. This enzyme gets activated by something called cAMP-dependent protein kinase, which boosts dopamine levels.*³

→ Additionally, some dopamine in the heart comes from nerve cells (sympathetic neurons), and another heart enzyme (decarboxylase) can also produce dopamine from a substance called DOPA.*³

These chemical messengers can influence how the Head [1st Brain] processes emotions and perceives events.*

And that's not all. Ongoing research in this field has shown that the heart-brain interaction may have some major implications for the treatment of not only cardiovascular but also neurological challenges.*

How is that even possible? As mentioned above, the Heart [2nd Brain] has a nervous system that communicates with the other 'brains' via the vagus nerve, spinal cord, peptides, nerve impulses, hormones, neurotransmitters, and electromagnetic fields.*⁴

This intricate network can allow for extensive communication pathways that can influence both physical and emotional health.*

For example, the heart produces hormones similar to those produced by the brain, such as oxytocin (a hormone that supports cardiovascular health but is also beneficial for many mental health conditions, including social anxiousness, feeling down, and other mood challenges).*^5,6

Moreover, there is a bi-directional relationship between the Heart [2nd Brain] and the Gut [3rd Brain], often mediated by the same communication pathways that link the heart and brain. Inflammation resulting from gut disturbances may lead to cardiovascular concerns and vice versa.*⁷

A healthy heart can keep your brain sharp as you age.*

In ancient times, the brain was not highly regarded—it was all about the heart. Aristotle believed the heart was the center of intelligence and thought, not the brain.

Even the ancient Egyptians overlooked the brain; they would scoop it out from the nose and throw it away during mummification, while the heart and other organs were carefully preserved.

Recent scientific findings suggest the ancients might have been onto something.

As we age, some cognitive decline is natural. You might become a bit more forgetful and struggle to remember little things. That is why daily brain exercises, a healthy diet, and a quality nootropic may help your brain age well.*⁸

However, interestingly enough, one 2019 population study looked into how maintaining heart health can be equally important for keeping your focus and cognitive abilities sharp as you get older.*⁹

The study examined 272 male twin pairs (a total of 544 subjects). Scientists noted that participants with higher risk factors for heart disease (such as high blood pressure and diabetes) experienced more cognitive decline compared to those with healthier hearts:

"[...] there is an association between cardiovascular health and cognitive performance, thus supporting the use of cardiovascular health metric as a correlate for brain health in addition to cardiovascular health."

What do these findings translate into? Cognitive decline, while affecting the brain's ability to process information, may also be influenced by your overall health and wellbeing.*

When you take a holistic approach to your health and think about your body as three brains (the head, heart, and gut), you can see the interconnectedness of these systems.

In fact, some of the latest research into the three brains found that listening to all three can be important in the decision-making process, too.^10,11 The idea is that by using and listening to all three areas, you will make smarter, more intuitive decisions.*

On the other hand, neglecting one while focusing exclusively on another may lead to unexpected health issues.*

Your three brains don't always align. They sometimes conflict.

You, like us and many others, have likely experienced conflicts between your three brains. How often has your brain pointed you in one direction, while your heart and gut pulled you in another?

Or perhaps you've encountered that familiar yet frustrating feeling that something is amiss. Yet, despite your brain's best efforts to pinpoint what may be off, you find nothing to confirm your suspicion. Regardless, you can't shake the feeling that something is wrong.

These conflicts can extend to potential health challenges as well. And, if left unchecked, these challenges can persist, especially if we fail to consider the interconnected roles of the Head [1st Brain], Heart [2nd Brain], and Gut [3rd Brain] in our overall wellbeing.*

Even the science shows that whatever you're looking to improve in your brain health cannot be improved by focusing on the head-brain alone. That's why the HCF®'s advanced nootropics are specifically crafted with neuro-nutrients to nurture all three brains, not just the one in your head.*