The Donguibogam description of speech confusion from heart fire surging upward corresponds closely in modern neurology and endocrinology to the fight-or-flight response under acute stress. When exposed to extreme pressure, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis is activated, triggering the excessive secretion of stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline.
While these chemicals aid immediate survival, their chronic elevation impairs brain function. The prefrontal cortex, serving as the command center of the brain, suffers reduced performance. Because the frontal lobe manages higher-order cognitive function including reasoned thought, decision-making, working memory, and articulate speech, an excess of stress hormones impairs its operation. Consequently, words become tangled, speech sounds slurred, thought processes fragment, and concentration declines.
Stress also impacts the hippocampus, the memory center of the brain. Sustained high cortisol levels can damage neurons or cause hippocampal atrophy, resulting in memory issues and impaired concentration. In addition, an accelerated heartbeat combined with hyperventilation creates further difficulty. Hyperventilation rapidly lowers blood carbon dioxide levels, causing cerebral blood vessels to constrict and reducing blood flow volume to the brain. When oxygen and nutrient delivery to the brain is compromised, cognitive function drops, leading to temporary neurological issues such as disorientation, dizziness, and speech disorder.
These reactions show that the autonomic nervous system is overly stimulated and out of balance. As the sympathetic nerve becomes hyperactive and parasympathetic nerve activity diminishes, the body stays locked in emergency mode. Ultimately, the concept of heart fire in the Donguibogam captured what modern science identifies as the stress response and its resulting neurological and endocrine imbalances. Body and mind remain in constant communication, and recognizing these warning signals is the first step toward lasting health.
