Psychophysiological Modes .......................................................... 56 The Holographic Heart ......................................................................................................... 56 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................... 58 References ................................................................................................................................ 61 wholesocialscience@sbcglobal.net Appendixes ...................................................................... 73 Appendixes............................................................................................................................... 73 Appendix A: Modes of Psychophysiological Function ........................................................... 73 INTEGRAL REVIEWDecember 2009Vol. 5, No. 2Modes of Everyday Psychophysiological Function ............................................................. 76 Mental Focus .................................................................................................................... 76 Psychophysiological Incoherence .................................................................................... 77 Relaxation ........................................................................................................................ 77 Psychophysiological Coherence ...................................................................................... 78 Modes Distinguished by Low Variability ............................................................................ 79 Emotional Quiescence...................................................................................................... 80 Extreme Negative Emotion .............................................................................................. 81 Appendix B: Previous Research............................................................................................... 84 The Baroreceptor Hypothesis: A Micro-Scale Perspective ................................................. 84 Appendix C: Research on Coherence and Cognitive Performance ......................................... 88 HeartMath Institute Research............................................................................................... 88 UK Research ........................................................................................................................ 90 HeartMaths TestEdge Program on Test Anxiety and Performance .................................... 94 Appendix D: Heart Brain Synchronization ............................................................................ 101 Appendix E: Energetic Signatures of Psychophysiological Modes ....................................... 109 Mental Focus .................................................................................................................. 109 Psychophysiological Incoherence .................................................................................. 110 Extreme Negative Emotion ............................................................................................ 111 Relaxation ...................................................................................................................... 112 Psychophysiological Coherence .................................................................................... 113 Emotional Quiescence.................................................................................................... 114 INTEGRAL REVIEWDecember 2009Vol. 5, No. 2...there are organism states in which the regulation of life processes becomes efficient, oreven optimal, free-flowing and easy. This is a well established physiological fact. It is not ahypothesis. The feelings that usually accompany such physiologically conducive states aredeemed positive, characterized not just by absence of pain but by varieties of pleasure.There also are organism states in which life processes struggle for balance and can evenbe chaotically out of control. The feelings that usually accompany such states are deemednegative, characterized not just by absence of pleasure but by varieties of pain. ... Thefact that we, sentient and sophisticated creatures, call certain feelings positive and otherfeelings negative is directly related to the fluidity or strain of the life process.(Damasio, 2003, p. 131)Chris, a 45-year-old business executive, had a family history of heart disease, and wasfeeling extremely stressed, fatigued, and generally in poor emotional health. A 24-hourheart rate variability analysis3 revealed abnormally depressed activity in both branches ofhis autonomic nervous system, suggesting autonomic exhaustion ensuing frommaladaptation to high stress levels. His heart rate variability was far lower then would beexpected for his age, and was below the clinical cut-off level for significantly increasedrisk of sudden cardiac death. In addition, Chriss average heart rate was abnormally highat 102 beats per minute, and his heart rate did not drop at night as it should.Upon reviewing these results, his physician concluded that it was imperative that Christake measures to reduce his stress. He recommended that Chris begin practicing a systemof emotional restructuring techniques that had been developed by the Institute ofHeartMath. These positive emotion-focused techniques help individuals learn to self-generate and sustain a beneficial functional mode known as psychophysiologicalcoherence, characterized by increased emotional stability and by increasedsynchronization and harmony in the functioning of physiological systems.Concerned about his deteriorating health, Chris complied with his physiciansrecommendation. Each morning during his daily train commute to work, he practiced theHeart Lock-In technique, and he would use the Freeze-Frame technique in situations whenhe felt his stress levels rise.4Excerpted from McCraty & Tomasino (2006), pp. 360-361.The analysis of heart rate variability (HRV), a measure of the naturally occurring beat-to-beat changes inheart rate, provides an indicator of neurocardiac