For the past few years, some scientists have noticed ancient references to the heart as an organ that can feel and decide for itself. Another group of scientists rejected the claim straight forward suggesting that this is the role of the brain. They mention that like the brain human heart to have neurons but they are just there to send and receive information from other cells using electrical signals. However, the first group of scientists still found something captivating in the theory and they conducted some experiments. After some study scientists came to know that the neurons in the heart and the brain are linked together especially. The other discovery that astonished the scientists was that if these neurons in the heart are just for the purpose of communication then what is thought process neurons doing on the right ventricle surface? Yes, you heard it right! Some highly specialized neurons have been found inside a "pumping organ".
Later Professor Paterson conducted an experiment to check if this part of the heart can make a decision on its own. He took a piece of the right ventricle from a rabbit's heart and placed it in a tank filled with oxygen and nutrition. The part of the heart somehow managed to beat on its own despite being unattached to anything supporting or aiding it. Then the professor shocked the tissue and it started to beat slowly. This derived a conclusion that the neurons in a heart made a direct decision by themselves. This further gave birth to more questions.
Also when the response of the heart was linked with the emotions scientists found out that the heart reacts differently to different emotions. Then the scientists were keen to find out if the heart can impact brain functions so they conducted other experiments. After an experiment, they figured out that there is a part of the brain that is affected by the heartbeat known as the "amygdala". So they concluded that it is basically the heart that is having an impact on brain functioning.
Malone argues that:
It is our heart working in tandem with our brain that allows us to feel for others… It is ultimately what makes us human… Compassion is the heart’s gift to the rational mind.
Despite all this research the other group of scientists still argue that some other parts of the body contain neurons but that does not make them superior to the brain. But another latest discovery suggested that the gut that has neurons too work as a brain which they call the "second brain" or "the gut-brain". This then gives birth to another question that are we actually lacking the understanding of how the neurons function or is there something else that is right in front of our eyes hidden? More research is required to reach the conclusion.
However, one thing is for sure the heart is not just a so-called "pumping organ". It has some hidden secrets.
And to add up to your curiosity let me mention another theory that will blow your mind away. The human body has neurons that conduct electrical impulses. And where ever there is electricity there is a magnetic field. So the organ that has the most number of neurons should have the most powerful magnetic field. Right? So it should be the brain or the CNS? NO! Things are not that uncomplicated. It is actually the heart so-called just "pumping organ". The heart has greater electrical activity than the brain. . The Heart is about 100,000 times stronger electrically & up to 5,000 times stronger magnetically than the brain.
Check these links out to understand more about the heart's electromagnetic field!
What are your thoughts about the heart?
Nida Batool
