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

Authors: Dana Tomasino

Addresses: HeartMath Research Center, Institute of HeartMath, 14700 West Park Avenue, Boulder Creek, California 95006, USA

Abstract: Entrepreneurial behaviour is informed by high degree of creativity and intuition, yet these capacities have remained a scientific enigma. Recent research has identified a distinct bodily state – psychophysiological coherence – that appears to facilitate creativity and receptivity to intuitive insight. This article describes how psychophysiological coherence is activated by sustained positive emotions, which cause a global shift toward increased synchronisation and harmony in an individual|s physiological and psychological processes. Learning how to self-activate the coherence state facilitates the processes underlying creativity and intuition. Creativity and intuition are viewed as whole-body functions emerging from important interactions between the heart and brain. Also described is a scientific system of coherence-building techniques which enable individuals to systematically increase intuitive receptivity and creativity at will. These techniques facilitate a body-wide shift to an optimal psychophysiological |zone| for enhancing creativity and intuition. Coherence-building techniques and technologies have important applications in both entrepreneurial research and practice.

Keywords: coherence building techniques; creativity; entrepreneurship; heart; heart rate variability; heart rhythm coherence feedback; intuition; positive emotions; psychophysiological coherence; psychophysiology; entrepreneurial behaviour; synchronisation; harmony; physiology; psychology.

DOI: 10.1504/IJESB.2007.014388

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, 2007 Vol.4 No.5, pp.528 - 542

Published online: 04 Jul 2007 *

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