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The Three Brains: How Your Head, Heart, and Gut Influence Decision-Making

Did you know that your heart and gut have their own "brains"? These aren’t just figures of speech; they are actual networks of neurons that work in tandem with your head-brain, influencing everything from your emotions to your decision-making processes. In fact, Dr. J. Andrew Armour, a pioneer in neurocardiology, discovered in 1991 that the heart contains around 40,000 to 120,000 neurons, which form a "heart-brain" capable of influencing emotions and decisions. Meanwhile, Dr. Michael Gershon, a neurobiologist, revealed in 1998 that the gut contains about 500 million neurons and plays a crucial role in producing serotonin, a neurotransmitter that impacts mood and behaviour​.

At what point in our decision-making process do we use each of these brains? Research by both Dr. Armour and Dr. Gershon suggests that the gut-brain often makes the first call—hence the phrase “trust your gut.” The gut sends signals to your head-brain that influence your emotions and thoughts, while the heart-brain regulates emotions, particularly those involving trust and relationships. The head-brain then processes this input and rationalises the final decision.

The idea that our heart and gut have neural networks capable of influencing our thoughts and behaviours opens a fascinating window into how these body systems could impact our lives in profound ways.

In fact, studies of heart transplant patients provide an intriguing layer to this discussion. Some patients have reported changes in their personality, memories, and even preferences after receiving a donor heart. The "cellular memory" hypothesis, though controversial, suggests that the heart's neural network might carry memory traces or emotional imprints from the donor, influencing the recipient's preferences in ways beyond conscious awareness. In a study by Schwarz et al. (2002), some transplant recipients experienced changes in food preferences and emotional patterns that eerily matched those of their donors, hinting that the "heart-brain" might indeed be playing a larger role than we currently understand. Although this hypothesis lacks a clear biological explanation, such case studies raise provocative questions about the heart's involvement in not just regulating emotions, but possibly storing emotional experiences.

For the food and hospitality industries, this science raises fascinating questions. What if your guests’ dining experiences are shaped not just by the quality of your food, but by how their gut and heart respond on a neurological level? Currently, we can tap into consumers subconscious emotions and motivations but imagine a future where we could track how a meal affects a customer’s heart-brain or gut-brain in real-time, providing insights that go far beyond traditional feedback. While this level of commercial research isn’t available yet, could it be one day in the future? It certainly would be fascinating!

References:

  1. Schwarz, E.R., et al. "Changes in food and drink preference following heart transplantation." Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation, 21.5 (2002): 503-506.
  2. Bunzel, B., et al. "Does changing the heart mean changing personality? A retrospective inquiry on 47 heart transplant patients." Quality of Life Research, 1.4 (1992): 251-256.
  3. Pearsall, P., Schwartz, G.E.R., & Russek, L.G.S. "Changes in Heart Transplant Recipients That Parallel the Personalities of Their Donors." Journal of Near-Death Studies, 20.3 (2002): 191-206.
  4. Dr. J. Andrew Armour
  5. Dr. Michael Gershon
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