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P E E R T O P E E R M A G A Z I N E · F A L L 2 0 2 5 25 firms and corporate legal departments need highly resilient teams. Resilient teams perform better and recover more quickly when adverse events occur, and can adapt to change more readily. Fortunately, an unlikely area – neuroscience – provides a powerful, evidence-based resource that legal teams can tap into. An understanding of neuroscience translates the science of how the brain and nervous system function into practical strategies that improve performance, resilience, and engagement. As a result, leaders and employees alike can develop strategies to stay focused under pressure, manage challenges with confidence, and improve overall team dynamics, providing a decisive competitive advantage in today's modern workforce. When the heart and brain are out of sync, a state of incoherence occurs. This state inhibits brain function and impairs performance – often manifesting as emotions such as frustration, irritation, impatience, or worry. Imagine a symphony orchestra where the instruments are out of tune. While heart-brain coherence is valuable for individuals, the most compelling effects of coherence emerge in group environments when "inter- brain coherence" or neural synchrony occurs. Studies indicate that when coherence is cultivated collectively, the social atmosphere shifts dramatically – relieving tension and fostering meaningful alignment among participants. When teams are centered and in sync, they create a more coherent field environment and are less affected by others' incoherence, as can THE HEART-BRAIN CONNECTION An understanding of some essential neuroscience principles starts – counterintuitively enough – with the heart. Recent findings from the HeartMath Institute indicate that the heart contains approximately 40,000 neurons, functioning in a manner similar to a mini-brain (https://www. heartmath.org/resources/ infographic/mysteries- of-the-heart/). When coherence is achieved between the heart and brain – often through intentional breathing techniques – they synchronize, resulting in heightened calm, mental clarity, and focused attention. You can think of coherence as similar to when all the instruments in a symphony orchestra are perfectly in tune and playing in perfect harmony. be seen in a rowing team perfectly in sync with one another. LOCK IT IN So, what are some ways to achieve this coherence? As a practical tool, leaders can utilize the Heart Lock-In ® Technique, a trademarked technique developed by the HeartMath Institute. This simple technique is a way of creating beneficial and sustained changes at the physiological level, which is imperative for building a new baseline of resilience. It is about rewiring the foundation, because neurons that fire together, wire together. The result is that individuals operate from a new, more resilient baseline – and things that might have once triggered or stressed them do not have the same impact as they once did. The Heart Lock-In ® Technique is easy to deploy: • Step 1: Focus your attention on the area of the heart. Imagine your breath is flowing in and out of your heart or chest area as you breathe a little slower and deeper than usual. • Step 2: Activate and sustain a regenerative feeling such as While heart-brain coherence is valuable for individuals, the most compelling effects of coherence emerge in group environments when "inter-brain coherence" or neural synchrony occurs.

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