Throughout many cultures since ancient times, the heart has been seen as a symbol representing wisdom, health, intuition, guidance, and higher intelligence; Dispenza points to ancient cultural examples of this. In the last few decades, scientific studies have shown that the heart is a source of electromagnetic fields and a connection to the unified field. The heart, Dispenza explains, is capable of influencing thoughts and emotions, and he refers to this inner knowing and wisdom as “heart intelligence.” It was thought that elevated emotions of the heart such as gratitude, compassion, and joy occur as a result of events in the external environment, but studies have led to the conclusion that these feelings can be generated internally. Thus, it is possible to consciously regulate one’s internal state and thereby create heart coherence.

He discusses his team’s partnership with the HeartMath Institute (HMI), a research organization that studies heart intelligence. The benefits of heart intelligence include lower blood pressure, improved nervous system and hormonal balance, improved brain function, and healthier gene expression. Feelings and emotions are key to unlocking heart intelligence because they emit powerful magnetic fields, and people can practice maintaining a positive state rather than a negative one.