The heart affects human perception

the heart and brain are constantly communicating. For example, when we are in a dangerous situation, signals from the brain can speed up the heartbeat. When we relax, the heart rate slows down. Interestingly, and vice versa - heartbeats can also affect the brain, but the underlying mechanisms are unclear.
now, researchers at institutions such as the Institute of Human Cognition and Brain Science at the German Magnum Institute have identified two mechanisms of cardiac influence perception and the differences between these mechanisms between individuals. The study was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
the first mechanism establishes a stage relationship between the heartbeat and the conscious experience. The first stage of the heart contracts regularly to pump blood into the body, the second stage of blood reflow, the heart is filled again. A previous article by the researchers noted that perceptions of external stimuli change with the heartbeat. People are less likely to feel weak electrical stimulation on their fingers when the heart contracts than during the esotheon period.
the new study, researchers studied these relationships by sending weak electrical stimuli to electrodes on the participants' fingers. At the same time, they used electro-encephalograms to record each participant's brain activity, and electrostats to record heart activity. The researchers eventually discovered the reason for this change in perception: brain activity changes with the cycle of heart activity. When the heart contracts, a specific part of consciousness-related brain activity, P300, is suppressed. In other words, the brain seems to make sure that certain information is not consciously known. Often, this helps people not to be disturbed by their own pulse. However, people may miss out on weak stimuli that are consistent with the contraction period.
study of heart-to-brain interactions, the researchers also found a second effect of heartbeat on perception: if a person's brain responds well to a heartbeat, the brain's processing of stimuli decreases and the sensation decreases. The researchers believe this appears to be the result of people focusing on external environmental signals and internal body signals. In other words, at some stage, the body pays more attention to the function of internal organs, such as blood circulation, but is less aware of stimuli from the outside world.
results not only make sense for understanding heart-brain interactions in healthy people, but may also help explain why patients with stroke often have heart problems and why heart patients often suffer cognitive impairment. (Source: Tang Erdu, China Science Journal)
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