Now, how does modern medicine interpret this profound wisdom from Donguibogam? The view in Donguibogam that the heart stores the spirit can be interpreted from the perspective of modern medicine in a context very similar to the complex systems of various brain regions, particularly those regulating emotion and cognition. Chronic anxiety and excessive worry are known to cause hyperactivation of the amygdala in our brain and induce hypofunction of the prefrontal cortex. The amygdala is a core area that detects danger and triggers fear responses, and ongoing stress and worry continuously stimulate this amygdala, making it react hypersensitively even to minor stimuli. It is just like an alarm that has become too sensitive, ringing constantly at the slightest movement.
Furthermore, when the body's stress response system, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, is chronically activated, stress hormones such as cortisol are excessively secreted. In the short term, cortisol helps cope with threats, but when maintained at high levels over a long period, it atrophies the hippocampus of the brain, reduces memory and learning capacity, and disrupts the balance of important neurotransmitters such as serotonin and gamma-aminobutyric acid, causing difficulties in mood regulation. Serotonin is an important neurotransmitter that regulates mood and feelings of happiness; when its levels drop, feelings of depression and anxiety can become amplified. GABA acts as a natural sedative that calms excitement by inhibiting brain activity; when this function weakens, the brain enters excessive arousal, leading to symptoms such as restlessness, insomnia, and even panic attacks.
The statement from Donguibogam that the heart becomes exhausted and anxious can be seen as a very insightful concept that comprehensively explains this state of neurological and endocrinological imbalance. Chronic anxiety is not merely a psychological issue; it causes actual changes in brain structure, function, and hormone systems, affecting systemic health. It is precisely due to these complex interactions that various physical symptoms appear, such as palpitations, indigestion, chronic fatigue, decreased immunity, and headaches. Ultimately, modern medicine scientifically proves how essential tranquility of the mind is to brain function and physical health, once again confirming that the wisdom of Donguibogam remains true. Our body and mind are connected as one.
