CookiesWe use cookies to enhance your experience and the functionality of our website. By continuing to browse, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Learn More

CookiesWe use cookies on our website. By continuing to browse, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Learn More

New Inner Balance™ Coherence Plus Sensor and App: Includes Free Lifetime Access to the New HeartMath® App Learn More

The Science of Coherence

Why Does Coherence Matter?

One’s ability to self-regulate the quality of feeling and emotion of one’s moment-to-moment experience influences our physiology and the reciprocal interactions between physiological, cognitive, and emotional systems. Self-induced positive emotions is reflected in the pattern of one’s heart’s rhythm, which in turn increases the coherence in bodily processes. This shift in the heart rhythm plays an important role in facilitating higher cognitive functions, creating emotional flexibility, and facilitating social connectedness.

Free Resources to Help You

These free resources enhance your understanding of heart coherence and how you can apply it in your daily life to enhance your sense of joyful living and deeper understanding.

Science of the Heart: Exploring the Role of the Heart in Human Performance

Chapter 4: Coherence

Learn about research that bridges the science of the heart and the highly practical, evidence-based skill set known as the HeartMath System. The research illuminates the important role the heart plays in building coherence for yourself, in your relationships, and for the world. It presents the positive changes that occur in health, mental functions, perception, happiness, and energy levels as people practice the HeartMath coherence-building techniques.

Coherence: Bridging Personal, Social and Global Health

Published in Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, A Peer-Reviewed Journal.

Most people know what it feels like to be in a harmonious state, where our hearts, minds and bodies are united in a feeling of wholeness. We call this state of internal and external connectedness "coherence." This paper discusses how increased personal coherence can be achieved, how it is reflected in our physiology and how coherence is objectively measured. The paper concludes with an examination of social and global coherence.

Emotional Stress, Positive Emotions, and Psychophysiological Coherence

Presented in layman’s terms, this e-Booklet explains the science and psychology of stress. It proposes that it’s generally one’s emotional experience, rather than solely cognitive activity, that is the strongest motivator of attitudes, decisions, and behavior. Included are two core HeartMath techniques, Freeze-Frame® and the Heart Lock-In®, which help us engage positive emotions to manage stress and break the cycle of recurring negative emotional patterns.

Free course on Coherence
Increasing Self-regulatory Capacity: Scientific Basis of The Coherence Model

Rollin McCraty Ph.D., HeartMath Institute’s director of research, explores many of the key concepts embraced by the term coherence and the science that underlies the 10 key aspects of the Physiological Coherence Model. While the main focus is related to the physiology of how heart coherence is related to improved physiological, mental and emotional self-regulator capacity, it also includes an introduction to social coherence.

Coherence Navigator

Personal
Coherence

Personal Coherence

In the flow of wellness
and resilience.

Global
Coherence

Global Coherence

Lending your energetic
field to the planet.

Science of
Coherence

Science of Coherence

Over 30 years of research
on heart coherence.

Coherence
Technology

Coherence Technology

A full range of technologies
for all people.