Do we really have three Brains?

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Yes. And science proves it.

Let’s be clear at this point: we are not talking in metaphors. This training is not built around some intellectual concept to help us think about how that one brain inside our skull works.

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Our three Brains are real. There is a great deal of scientific research on the distinct roles, locations, and functions of the three very distinct cognitive structures we carry around in our head and body.

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Before now, if Heart and Gut Brains were thought to exist at all, they were considered separate entities that existed and reacted independently and were not capable of communicating or collaborating with one another. We have come to know differently.

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The Gut Brain

In the book, ‘The Second Brain’ (1998), neurobiologist Dr. Michael Gershon described that the gut contains a complex and fully functional neural network or ‘brain’.

The Gut Brain contains over 500 million neurons, sends and receives nerve signals throughout the chest/torso and innervates organs.

The priority of the Gut Brain is survival, and prompts feelings like fear, desire, disgust, and rage.

When the Gut Brain is making decisions, our communication and behavior is based on fear, anger, and lust, and it is always focused on ‘Me’.

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The Heart Brain

Neuro-cardiologist Dr. J. Andrew Armour introduced the concept of a functional brain in the heart in 1991.

The heart has a complex intrinsic neural network sufficiently sophisticated to qualify as a ‘brain’. The heart’s neural network meets all the criteria specified for a brain including several types of neurons, neurotransmitters, proteins, support cells and more. Its complex and elaborate neural circuit allows the Heart Brain to function independently of the Head Brain and it can learn, remember, feel and sense.

The priority of the Heart Brain is belonging and works with emotions of love, guilt, happiness, hope, joy, shame, sorrow, hate, and sadness. Because they are all based on connecting and belonging, and are all about ‘Us’, they are essential in our relationships.

It also means this Brain can only play a part in our decision-making when we feel safe enough to let our guard down and put the Gut Brain at rest, so that we can feel and nurture attachments.

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The Head Brain

The place where three parts are connected: Reptile Brain, Mammal (limbic) Brain and Primate (neocortex) Brain.

This level is solely focused on making logical decisions for the future, based on acquired (past) knowledge. It deals with intellectual feelings like understanding, anticipation, interest, surprise, and wonder. All those things can influence our decisions. 

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The important thing is to understand what the three Brains are, and how they work. We can then apply the insights resulting from the research in practical ways to help us manage (and sometimes control) our own Brains and how we interact with others.

Throughout this training, we move forward from scientific fact — that the Head, Heart and Gut Brains exist — to explore the ways we can use that knowledge to improve our Brains’ health and our lives.

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