The psychophysiological basis of creativity and intuition: accessing 'the zone' of entrepreneurship

Successful entrepreneurs are innovators and risk-takers who appear to have an extraordinary ability to know where future business opportunities will eventuate and how to profitably actualize these ventures. The patterns of thought and action displayed by entrepreneurs are thus informed by an unusually high degree of both creativity and intuition. Research conducted by the Institute of HeartMath has made significant progress in elucidating the psychophysiological basis of creativity and intuition. We have identified a distinct psychophysiological state which appears to enhance creativity and intuitive perception. This state, termed psychophysiological coherence , is characterized by a system-wide shift toward increased order, synchronization, and harmony in an individual's physiological and psychological processes. We have shown that the coherent state is naturally activated during the experience of sustained positive emotions. This presentation will describe the physiological and psychological correlates of coherence and discuss how this state facilitates the processes underlying creativity and intuition. Examining creative and intuitive processes as body-wide phenomena, we will give particular attention to the important role played by interactions between the heart and brain. The second part of the presentation will introduce practical techniques and technology developed by the Institute of HeartMath to help people learn how to self-activate the psychophysiological coherence state at will.