A new study helps explain why our sensitivity to external sensory stimuli fluctuates with the beating of our hearts. According to popular culture, the brain and heart work in opposition to each other.
The brain is the seat of rational, objective thought, while the heart is emotional and intuitive. In reality, the activity of the two organs is intimately connected, with neither having a monopoly on reason or emotion.
Our hearts beat faster when we think about something exciting or frightening, for example. Conversely, an early morning jog can brighten our mood as our heart and lungs work harder. A new study adds to evidence that the brain’s sensitivity to external sensory stimuli changes in step with the beating of the heart. Researchers