<p>The general consensus of the scientific community would be that the human heart is not capable of consciousness.</p>

<p>The machinery behind consciousness is not well understood, of course, and there is quite a bit of debate, but <a href="http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/a-theory-of-consciousness/" rel="nofollow">it is thought that some minimum level of complexity is required in order for consciousness to arise</a>. The human heart, while containing some neural circuitry, is very unlikely to reach this minimum level of complexity.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.quora.com/Are-there-neurons-in-the-human-heart-What-are-the-implications-of-this" rel="nofollow">Here is a Quora discussion that further explores this issue</a>.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-02-01T19:34:17.590Z
2016-02-01T19:34:17.590Z
K A
<p>I have read that our heart can think like our brain. Of course it doesn't have complete functionality of brain but it has its own consciousness. Is it true?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-02-03T20:15:03.203Z
Welcome to CogSci. What do you define as consciousness? Where did you read it? In short - no, the quickest proof being that a person after a heart transplant is still the same person with the same perceptions, feelings and view on the world.
AliceD
<neuroscience><consciousness>
Is the heart conscious?
user10598
# Is the heart conscious?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-02-01)

I have read that our heart can think like our brain. Of course it doesn't have complete functionality of brain but it has its own consciousness. Is it true?

**Tags:** neuroscience, consciousness

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Welcome to CogSci. What do you define as consciousness? Where did you read it? In short - no, the quickest proof being that a person after a heart transplant is still the same person with the same perceptions, feelings and view on the world.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2016-02-01. Score: 2

The general consensus of the scientific community would be that the human heart is not capable of consciousness.

The machinery behind consciousness is not well understood, of course, and there is quite a bit of debate, but [it is thought that some minimum level of complexity is required in order for consciousness to arise](http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/a-theory-of-consciousness/). The human heart, while containing some neural circuitry, is very unlikely to reach this minimum level of complexity.

[Here is a Quora discussion that further explores this issue](https://www.quora.com/Are-there-neurons-in-the-human-heart-What-are-the-implications-of-this).


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