For centuries, poets, philosophers, scientists, and everyday people have spoken of the heart not just as an organ but as the symbolic center of our feelings. We talk about “heartbreak,” “speaking from the heart,” and having a “change of heart.” Despite knowing that emotions originate in the brain, we continue to assign emotional weight to the heart. This cultural, spiritual, and even physiological association between the heart and emotions is deeply ingrained. But why has the heart, rather than the brain, taken center stage in the emotional narrative of human life?
The Historical and Cultural Roots of the Heart as an Emotional Symbol
The heart’s symbolic role in human emotion has roots in ancient civilizations. In Ancient Egypt, the heart was considered the seat of intelligence, memory, and emotion. Egyptians believed the heart would be weighed against a feather in the afterlife to determine moral worth. In Chinese medicine, the heart has long been viewed as the residence of the “shen” or spirit, reflecting mental and emotional states.
Similarly, the Greeks and Romans believed the heart held emotions. Aristotle, for instance, thought the heart was the most important organ in the body, responsible for thought, motion, and sensation. Hippocrates and Galen also linked emotional states to bodily fluids or “humors,” with the heart playing a central role in this theory.
Religious texts and practices have also contributed to the heart’s elevated status. In the Bible, the heart is frequently mentioned as the center of spiritual and moral life. For example, Proverbs 4:23 advises, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” These references have helped shape how generations have understood emotion—not as cerebral but as visceral and deeply rooted in the chest.
The Physiology of Emotion: What Happens to the Heart?
Although emotions originate in the brain—specifically, in regions such as the amygdala, hypothalamus, and prefrontal cortex—they have powerful effects on the body, especially the heart. When we feel afraid, excited, or in love, the brain sends signals through the autonomic nervous system that cause the heart to react. The result? A racing pulse, a sinking feeling, or the pounding sensation often described in moments of anxiety or joy.
This physical feedback loop helps explain why emotions feel like they’re located in the chest. When you’re nervous before a speech or thrilled by a surprise, the fluttering or tightening in your chest seems to confirm the heart’s emotional involvement. Over time, this sensation reinforces the belief that the heart is more than a mechanical pump—it feels emotionally “alive.”
Modern science has even discovered links between emotional states and heart health. Chronic stress, anxiety, and depression are all known to affect cardiovascular function, increasing the risk of heart disease. Conversely, positive emotions like love and gratitude may help improve heart health by reducing blood pressure and improving circulation. This scientific backing gives even more credence to the age-old idea that the heart and emotions are connected.
The Language of the Heart in Everyday Expression
Our everyday language is filled with heart-related metaphors. We say we are “heartbroken,” have our “heart set on something,” or “pour our heart out.” These expressions shape how we think and talk about emotion, reinforcing the heart’s emotional role in our collective psyche.
Such idioms often reflect physical experiences. For example, a “broken heart” after a loss feels real because grief can cause physical chest pain—a condition even known to cardiologists as takotsubo cardiomyopathy, or “broken heart syndrome.” In this temporary condition, extreme emotional stress can actually cause the heart muscle to weaken.
The persistence of these metaphors across cultures and languages further cements the idea of the heart as an emotional core. In French, “avoir le cœur brisé” means to have a broken heart. In Japanese, “kokoro” refers to both heart and mind. This universal linguistic trend shows that despite cultural differences, the heart remains a powerful emotional symbol.
The Role of Art and Literature in Shaping Perception
Art and literature have played a pivotal role in sustaining the image of the heart as the emotional epicenter. From the romantic poetry of Rumi and Shakespeare to modern pop songs and films, the heart is often portrayed as the source of love, passion, and sorrow. The image of the heart pierced by Cupid’s arrow or broken into pieces reflects powerful visual and emotional storytelling.
In literature, the heart is often used to show internal conflict or transformation. A character may follow their heart rather than logic, signifying authenticity and true feeling. These portrayals resonate because they reflect the emotional complexity of being human—something that cold logic alone cannot explain.
The arts offer a unique platform to explore emotional truth. By placing the heart at the center of love stories and tragedies, they make the intangible tangible. This artistic reinforcement deepens the emotional association with the heart, often bypassing scientific rationality to speak directly to human experience.
Why We Still Embrace the Heart in the Age of Neuroscience
In the 21st century, we understand more about the brain than ever before. We know that emotions are biochemical processes governed by neural circuits and hormones. Yet, the symbolic power of the heart endures. Why?
The answer lies in the difference between knowledge and experience. Neuroscience tells us how emotions work, but it doesn’t necessarily describe what they feel like. Emotions are lived through the body, and the heart—with its immediate and visceral reactions—plays a central role in that experience.
Moreover, the heart offers something the brain does not: a sense of emotional authenticity. While the brain is often associated with logic, calculation, and even manipulation, the heart feels honest, vulnerable, and human. When we say someone “speaks from the heart,” we mean they are being sincere. The metaphor works because it resonates with how we experience emotional truth.
In an increasingly analytical world, the heart remains a counterbalance—a reminder that feeling is as important as thinking, that connection matters as much as cognition. Whether in medicine, literature, or daily conversation, the heart helps us speak the language of emotion in a way that is universally understood.
In Conclusion
While the brain may be the true seat of our emotions from a scientific standpoint, the heart continues to serve as our emotional compass—rich in metaphor, history, and personal experience. From ancient beliefs and poetic traditions to physiological responses and modern expressions, the heart has earned its symbolic status. It may not “feel” emotions in a literal sense, but it powerfully expresses them—beating faster with excitement, aching with loss, and swelling with love. And that, perhaps, is why it will always remain the symbol of our emotional lives.
