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Head, Heart, and Gut - Three Brains Are Better Than One

  • Writer: Patricia Faust
    Patricia Faust
  • Jun 4
  • 3 min read

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We work so hard to take care of our brain and that hard work can bring about amazing changes.  But what if I told you we have three brains?!  You are familiar with the three brains we possess, but probably not in a manner that you thought of them each as a brain.  All three brains are vital to our health and wellbeing. 

 

Enough of the suspense already – here are our three brains:  the head, heart, and gut.


Our three brains are now considered functional brains, and science has shown us that there are complex neural networks in all three.  You probably have a sense of this already.  Humans have always expressed love, feelings, and emotional pain coming from the heart, and basic feeling of intuition coming from the gut.  Listening to all three is critical in decision-making. The heart and gut are fully equipped to do some thinking on their own.  And sometimes, they are giving the brain orders instead of taking them.  We are truly an integrated being!  Let’s dive a little deeper and discover how the heart and gut contribute to our health and happiness.

 

The Heart (Cardiac) Brain

The heart has nearly 2 billion muscle cells and 40,000 neurons.  100,000 times a day the heart repeats its monotonous task of survival.  Perhaps that is all you ever associated with your heart.  This ‘pump’ turns out to have a mind of its own. The network of neurons (nerve cells) is situated around the heart, and they function much the same way as parts of the brain.  The heart-mind interaction takes place both by electrical signals (via the vagus and spinal cord nerves) and through chemicals (the heart is an endocrine gland also).  Recent studies have shown that the heart sends signals to the brain that are not only understood by it but also obeyed.  Recently scientists have discovered that the heart is involved in the processing and decoding of ‘intuitive information’.  Tests done on subjects showed that the heart appeared to receive the intuitive information before the brain.  To listen, you want to get out of your mind and get into your body a little bit.


The Gut (Enteric) Brain

The cranial brain (brain) has nearly 100 billion neurons and is the seat of all our thinking.  The gut (digestive system of the body) has close to 500 million nerve cells and 100 million neurons.  Not only does the gut talk with the brain chemically (by releasing chemicals which are then taken to the brain by blood) but also by sending electrical signals via the vagus nerve.  Most of the gut neurons are used in the daily grind of digestion.  

 

Recent research has revealed that there is a tremendous amount of information flow from the gut to the brain via the vagus nerve and the flow is mostly one-sided – almost all of it is from the gut to the brain and not the other way around.  There are also recent research findings that suggest that a big part of our emotions are probably influenced by the chemicals and nerves in the gut.  95% of the body’s Serotonin is found in the gut.  Serotonin is an important neurotransmitter which is a well-known contributor towards feelings of wellbeing.

More research has discovered that the beginnings of Parkinson’s disease is in the gut.  Keeping the gut clean and healthy produces a healthy brain. (http://thriveglobal.com)

 

The Head (Cranial) Brain

The brain is the most complex organ in the body. It is composed of 100 billion neurons that communicate along trillions of connections called synapses.  Specialized areas of the brain work together to store and access memories and process your surroundings.  The brain can help in making good decisions in really difficult situations.  You can come up with solutions to complex problems.

 

Notice what you feel in your body.  Access the combined wisdom of your head brain, the feelings of your heart brain, and the instincts of your gut brain.  When you take the three messages from your head, your heart, and your gut, you will have a fuller perspective on how to act.  (https://www.goodnet.org)

 

 


References:

Goodnet. (Aug. 20, 2020). Head, Heart, and Gut: How to Use the 3 Brains. Retrieved from https://www.goodnet.org/articles/head-heart-gut-how-to-use-3-brains

 

Rajvanshi,A.  How three minds of the body – Brain, heart, and gut, work together for producing happiness.  Retrieved from https;//thriveglobal.com/how-three-minds-of-the-body-brain-heart-and-gut-work-together-for-producing-happiness/

 

Rewire Me.  Your Heart and Stomach May Be Smarted Than You Think. Retrieved from  https://www.rewireme.com/brain-insight/your-heart-and-stomach-may-be-smarter-than-you-think.

 

 

 

 

 
 
 

Comments

Where did summer go?  It was a goal of mine to be intentional each day of summer to appreciate the warm weather, the long days, and believing we are in the lazy, hazy days of summer.  Turns out that wasn’t exactly how the summer went.  At the beginning of summer, we had a lot of rain.  I mean enough rain to flood the Ohio River and its tributaries.  Everything was wet! Then we went into the heat mode!  At the end of June, we went camping for a long weekend.  We are tent campers!  I think we were the only tent campers in the entire campground.  It was obvious that RVs and Motor Homes were the way to go on this particular camping trip.  Their air conditioners filled the night air with their compressors whirring.  Not to be outdone, my sister-in-law and her husband brought an air conditioner to cool off their tent!  We were really roughing it!!  The 100+ degree temperatures will give us lots of stories to tell about how we survived the heat and still had a great time.

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Then there was July and August and I have no idea what we did to mark those months as memorable.  And now it is September.  This is the best month of the year.  The weather is temperate, and we have an overlap of professional sports in Cincinnati.  The Cincinnati Reds Major League Baseball team is finishing up the season.  The Cincinnati Bengals National League Football team is starting their season. The FC Cincinnati Major League Soccer (MLS) team is amid their season. 

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Octoberfest is at the end of this month.  Cincinnati has the second largest Octoberfest festival in the world, second only to Munich Germany!

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September is really all about Raising Awareness for the Aging Population!​

  • Healthy Aging Month (Brain Health)

  • National Senior Center Month

  • National Assisted Living Month

  • Falls Prevention Awareness Week

  • World’s Alzheimer’s Month

  • National Suicide Prevention Month

  • National Recovery Month

  • Substance abuse and mental health services

This list is mostly positive references to senior events/awareness.  Suicide Prevention Month and National Recovery Month might not seem like they should be in this list.  But the statistics of seniors taking their own lives is the highest of all age groups.   I did a little research to confirm that statement.  What I found was unsettling.  My next newsletter will include a blog on senior suicide.  This is really important information for all of us.

 

The Walk to End Alzheimer’s is less than a month away!! Yikes – I told you I lost a couple of months of the summer!!!  Here are some facts on the personal impact of Alzheimer’s for families, friends, and caregivers.

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  • Today, more than 7 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s.  By 2050, this number is projected to rise to nearly 13 million.  This is a direct correlation to the large size of the Boomer generation.

 

It is hard to conceptualize the impact of these figures if you are not aware of the devastation Alzheimer’s disease leaves behind.  So, let’s make this more personal:

  • Are you a Boomer?  The last group of Boomers will pass through the 65-age threshold in 2030.  Age is a non-modifiable risk factor for Alzheimer’s.  The percentage of getting Alzheimer’s and other dementias starts to increase rapidly the older you get.  Boomers are now in the high-risk group which accounts for the huge projection of those with Alzheimer’s by 2050.

  • Do you have a parent, grandparent or other relative or friend that are in the over-65 age group?  You will likely experience Alzheimer’s as a caregiver or friend/relative of a caregiver.  Alzheimer’s will impact your life in many ways.

  • Do you have parents in this over-65 age group and children still living at home?  You are now part of the sandwich generation, responsible for care of your parents and your children.  The results of the extreme stress and financial burden will make for a very difficult time in your life.

 

The Alzheimer’s Association is fully aware of the impact of this horrible disease.  Their goal is to Find the First Survivor.  The Walk to End Alzheimer’s is their largest national fundraiser.  Please support/join Team My Boomer Brain as we too fight to bring an end to Alzheimer’s. 

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Link to donate:  http://act.alz.org/goto/faust

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Thanks to all, 

 

Pat

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