New USC Study Shows Heart Coherence Training May Reverse Key Signs of Brain Aging
Heart–Brain Connection and Cognitive Health
Aging is often accompanied by a natural decline in the brain’s ability to regulate blood flow, which is associated with cognitive decline, but new research shows that targeted Heart Rate Variability (HRV) coherence biofeedback training can counteract some of these effects. The 2025 Imaging Neuroscience paper, led by researchers at the University of Southern California and supported by NIH funding, found that daily practice with the emWave® Pro, developed by HeartMath to increase heart rhythm coherence, strengthens heart–brain communication and supports cognitive function across the lifespan.
Studying the Rhythms of the Body and Brain
The study examined younger and older adults to see how low-frequency heart rhythms and breathing patterns affect brain activity, as measured by functional MRI (fMRI). Over time, decreases in HRV and neurovascular coupling—how the brain adjusts its blood flow to meet activity demands—have been strongly linked to aging and cognitive decline. To address this, researchers introduced Heart Rate Variability Coherence Biofeedback (HRVC-BF), a practice designed to train participants to consciously increase the coherence and stability in their heart rhythms.
Training the Heart for Brain Resilience
Participants completed five weeks of HRVC-BF training using the emWave Pro coherence system, which provides real time feedback on heart rhythms, guiding users to find their personal “coherence frequency”—typically around six breaths per minute. Those trained to increase the stability of their coherence frequency in the heart rhythm oscillations showed brain activity patterns more like those of younger adults. Specifically, regions tied to emotional regulation and higher cognitive control—such as the anterior cingulate, insula, and orbitofrontal cortex—demonstrated improved synchronization with cardiac rhythms following training.
Coherence: A Bridge Between Heart and Brain
In essence, the study found that the emWave system helps bridge the conversation between heart and brain by restoring coherent physiological communication. This coherence—a harmonious alignment of heart rhythms and neural activity—not only enhances emotional resilience but also supports cerebral blood flow, contributing to clearer thinking and improved memory.
The Path to a Younger Brain
These newest results affirm what HeartMath’s decades of research have shown: Cultivating heart coherence through HRV coherence feedback fosters the physiological conditions for calm, focus, and brain longevity. As lead researcher Dr. Mara Mather notes, practices that strengthen heart rhythm coherence may do more than soothe stress—they might help the brain stay biologically younger, offering a promising, noninvasive path to lifelong cognitive health.
Song, R., Min, J., Wang, S., Mather, M., & Thayer, J. F. (2025). ”Age-related differences in physiological–BOLD coupling and the effects of heart rate variability biofeedback training”. Imaging Neuroscience, 3(1). https://doi.org/10.1162/imag_a_00097
