Heart–Brain Dynamics in Analytical and Non-Analytical Intuition: A Study of HRV and EEG Correlates

Authors : İsmet Şahin

Pages : 132-155

Doi:10.59041/eyor.1780704

View : 105 | Download : 304

Publication Date : 2025-12-20

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :This study investigates the physiological correlates of intuitive processes by examining the relationship between heart rate variability (HRV), electroencephalogram (EEG) activity, and two types of perception: analytical (AP) and non-analytical (NAP). A sample of 110 healthy university students completed tasks designed to measure AP and NAP under both resting and testing conditions, while HRV and EEG data were simultaneously recorded. Correlational analyses revealed that higher AP scores were positively associated with HRV indices such as RMSSD, PNN50, HF power, and HRV mean during rest, indicating a connection between analytical intuition and parasympathetic regulation. In contrast, NAP scores were negatively correlated with most HRV indices during testing, while positively associated with mean heart rate, suggesting heightened arousal and reduced autonomic flexibility. EEG analyses showed no significant brain wave correlates for AP, but trend-level differences in gamma variability were noted. NAP performance was associated with increased high beta activity and alpha peak frequency variability, indicating greater cortical arousal and modulation. Group comparisons revealed significant physiological differences between high and low performers, especially in HRV during testing and in EEG patterns at rest. Stepwise regression identified HRV mean, LF peak, broad beta mean, and SMR variability as significant predictors of NAP scores, explaining 17.3% of the variance. No significant predictors emerged for AP. These findings suggest that AP and NAP are supported by distinct physiological states, with AP linked to baseline autonomic stability and NAP to dynamic arousal and neural flexibility. The study offers empirical support for a dual-process view of intuition grounded in heart-brain interaction.
Keywords : Sezgi, Analitik Olmayan Sezgi, Kalp Atım Göstergeleri ve Sezgi, Beyin Dalgaları Göstergeleri ve Sezgi, HRV ve EEG Arasındaki Korelasyonlar, Sezgi için Yordayıcı Değişkenler

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