When people have their feelings hurt, what is actually happening inside the body to cause the physical pain in the chest?
—Josh Ceddia, Melbourne, Australia
Robert Emery and Jim Coan, professors of psychology at the University of Virginia, reply:
terms such as “heartache” and “gut wrenching” are more than mere metaphors: they describe the experience of both physical and emotional pain. When we feel heartache, for example, we are experiencing a blend of emotional stress and the stress-induced sensations in our chest—muscle tightness, increased heart rate, abnormal stomach activity and shortness of breath. In fact, emotional pain involves the same brain regions as physical pain, suggesting the two are inextricably connected.
But how do emotions trigger physical sensations? Scientists do not know, but recently pain researchers uncovered a possible pathway from mind to body. According to a 2009 study from the University of Arizona and the University of Maryland, activity in a brain region that regulates emotional reactions called the anterior cingulate cortex helps to explain how an emotional insult can trigger a biological cascade. During a particularly stressful experience, the anterior cingulate cortex may respond by increasing the activity of the vagus nerve—the nerve that starts in the brain stem and connects to the neck, chest and abdomen. When the vagus nerve is overstimulated, it can cause pain and nausea.
Heartache is not the only way emotional and physical pain intersect in our brain. Reent studies show that even experiencing emotional pain on behalf of another person—that is, empathy—can influence our pain perception. And this empathy effect is not restricted to humans. In 2006 a paper published in Science revealed that when a mouse observes its cage mate in agony, its sensitivity to physical pain increases. And when it comes into close contact with a friendly, unharmed mouse, its sensitivity to pain diminishes.
Soon after, one of us (Coan) published a functional MRI study in humans that supported the finding in mice, showing that simple acts of social kindness, such as holding hands, can blunt the brain’s response to threats of physical pain and thus lessen the experience of pain. Coan implicated several brain regions involved in both anticipating pain and regulating negative emotions, including the right anterior insula (which helps to regulate motor control and cognitive functioning), the superior frontal gyrus (which is involved in self-awareness and sensory processing) and the hypothalamus (which links the nervous system to the endocrine system).
Although the biological pathways underlying these connections between physical and mental pain are not well understood, studies such as these are revealing how intricate the connection is and how very real the pain of heartache can be.
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24 Comments
Add CommentI THOUGHT THE ARTICLE WAS ABOUT THE PAIN FELT WHEN ONE EXPERIENCES A HEART ACHE! YOU KNOW, WHEN YOUR SIGNIFICANT OTHER BREAKS UP WITH YOU OR YOUR FAVORITE GRANDPARENT DIES OR YOUR LOVING PET IS LOST. THIS AUTHOR GOES OFF INTO SOMETHING ELSE.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisWE KNOW THAT HEARTS REALLY DOSEN'T "BREAK" . THE PAIN AND TIGHTNESS WE FEEL IN THE mediastinum AREA OF THE CHEST IS CAUSED BY ......DRUM ROLL PLEASE.........A SPASM OF THE ESOPHAGUS. ONE WAY TO STOP IT IS TO LOOK UP AT THE SKY AND TAKE 5 OR 6 DEEP BREATHS. IF IT GOES AWAY, AND IT USUALLY DOES, IT'S NOT A HEART ATTACK AND WHAT EVER NEUROLOGICAL MUMBO JUMBO THAT CAUSES IT IS MORE EXPLANATION THAN I NEED (AT THIS TIME).
THANKS
Fascinating article about the mind-body interface. Pain sensitivity and perception is clearly colored by emotional states, and the article suggests a neuroanatomical reason for this.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisRe: the previous comment, we have scientists at a respected university armed with fMRI data and well-grounded in neurophysiology versus (sorry jwexler) an anonymous respondent typing IN CAPS with his/her own theory--I'll go with the scientific explanation--which is why I frequent websites like this. (I hope that readers would not use jwexler's method to determine whether they are having a heart attack! This only indicates that it is less likely...)
WELL MR DELKIN, I WRITE IN CAPS BECAUSE I HAVE FAILING EYESIGHT, THANK YOU FOR EMPHASIZING MY DISABILITY. I AM SURE THE COMPOSITION POLICE WILL BE KNOCKING ON MY DOOR VERY SOON.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisYOU MISSED THE POINT OF MY RESPONSE. OF YOUR DEFENSIVE, FOR SOME REASON, REPLY I HAVE NO RESPONSE.
PS: THERE WERE ONLY 2 COMMENTS SO I GUESS NOBODY REALLY CARES ABOUT THIS SUBJECT ANYWAY. HOWEVER I DID ENJOY YOUR COMMENT.
if we remember that every single cell has all the genetic makeup to make a whole body, we know that each system interacts with all others. i have PANGS when she cheats on me, but not when i ...!!! ...why only the vagus and all its r.l.branches....what bout the intercostals, the phrenic, the cervical and the brachial plexus.......all constrict the thorax like a mini cor......and stab at the vitals.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisRIGHT ON pradhangeorge. IT'S LIKE I ASKED FOR A LIGHT AND GOT THE HISTORY OF FIRE. I JUST WENT DIRECTLY TO THE IMMEDIATE CAUSE OF THAT "HOLDING BACK TEARS" TYPE OF PAIN THAT COMES FROM THE ESOPHAGUS AND NOT FROM A BROKEN HEART, LITERALLY.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisJust minutes before reading this article, a friend made a hurtful comment. Immediately, tears welled up in my eyes as I felt a tightening in my chest. Not having eaten all day, my hunger pangs dissipated into a complete loss of appetite. The feelings will soon pass, however, they have already set the pace for the evening. My psychiatrist has reiterated over the years, that having a negative response or feeling, does not mean I have to listen. "Ignore the feelings and move on to something else." I understand what he is saying, yet how does one ignore physical pain. I've made numerous attempts, yet I still feel the need to ride it out - feel the pain and let it take it's course, whether it be five minutes or five hours. Taking a stoical approach as opposed to being emotionally motivated, simply does not work for me. I can move a muscle and change a thought but it still doesn't alleviate the tightening in my chest or dry the teary eyes. My brain is wired in a way which causes me to be perhaps a little more sensitive than the next person. Of course, if the comment was made by someone I did not care about, it would not be an issue at all. Simply writing about this, was both cathartic and therapeutic.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisDEAR LAURIE: I HAVE DEALT WITH THIS FROM MY STUDENTS FOR MANY YEARS AND I WILL TELL YOU WHAT I TELL THEM AND IT SEEMS TO WORK.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI ASK THEM "HAS ANYBODY EVER SAID SOMETHING THAT HURT YOUR FEELINGS?". OF COURSE THEY ANSWER YES.
"NO ONE CAN HURT YOUR FEELINGS UNLESS YOU ALLOW THEM TO. DON'T GIVE AWAY YOUR POWER. YOU DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT TO ACCEPT WHAT THEY SAY".
IN REALITY YOU ARE ACCEPTING THE HURT WITHOUT ANY THOUGHT HOW IT WAS SENT. YOU RESPOND NEGATIVELY TO IT AUTOMATICALLY WITHOUT PROCESSING THAT "YOU ARE IN CHARGE OF YOUR REACTION, NOT THEM".
HERE'S A GREAT EXAMPLE: THERE WAS 4 LADIES STANDING IN A COFFEE SHOP. THEY WERE DISCUSSING HOW ONE OF THESE LADIES WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH HER HUSBAND WITH HIS WORK. A FIFTH LADY HEARD THEM DISCUSSING THIS AND ENTERED THE CONVERSATION THOROUGHLY OFFENDED AND BEGAN CRYING AND DEFENDING HER SITUATION WITH HER BOYFRIEND.
NOW HOW THE HELL DID THIS BECOME THE FIFTH LADY'S INSULT? WELL, SHE BROUGHT IT OVER TO HER SITUATION AND TOOK IT OUT ON AN INNOCENT BYSTANDER. I DON'T PRETEND TO UNDERSTAND THIS. IT IS JUST VERY COMMON, IN MY EXPERIENCE.
YOU ARE A VERY POWERFUL HUMAN BEING AND YOU DON'T NEED TO BE WEAK IN SOCIAL EXCHANGES. REMEMBER MOST PEOPLE ARE ASS HOLES AND DON'T THINK ABOUT ANYONE BUT THEMSELVES.
"DON'T BE DISTRACTED BY CRITICISM. REMEMBER-THE ONLY TASTE OF SUCCESS SOME PEOPLE HAVE IS WHEN THEY TAKE A BITE OUT OF YOU." ~~~~~~ZIG ZIGLER
I too am sensitive Laurie & I know Jwexler means well, but us sensitive people just can't work that way no matter how hard we try. Words hurt period. I feel your pain Laurie. The closer someone is to you the more it affects you. For instance if someone in the street says something insulting to me, I don't care b/c I don't care for them. But when its someone whom you care about then emotional connections are involved, its nearly impossible to ignore. I hope I've said this
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThat vagus nerve being overactive is perhaps a part of Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue from which I suffer. If only I could find a way to dull those stupid nerve centers.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI have too learnt that as long as I am able to restraint myself from loving or caring about that person, I will not be hurt by that person whatever he/she says or do. It hurts to tell myself to stop loving, however if I want to continue living I have to do so. I agree totally with you Laurie that sometimes no matter what the psychiatrist or therapist say to do, at the end of the day it seems better to have felt the pain and cried it all out no matter how long it may take to recover. Even telling myself to 'recover' I certainly don't really know what the term means for me anymore these days. It seems 'recover' means 'to distract' or divert from the problem and dive into something else more meaningful. It took me 2 years to finally understand the selfishness of people that I have never before seen in my 27 years of living. I was also told that I had too much compassion and care, I hated myself for having these traits because all the more I knew I would be the sacrificial one at the end of the day. Be strong and smile for another day to all out there who have lived the best of your life for each tomorrow's and yesterday's.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI had been wondering about this because I actually literally get a really specific feeling in my chest if someone close to me says something hurtful or is angry for a reason I can't determine. It only lasts a moment usually, and starts in the left side of my chest and sometimes shoots down my left arm and into my hand. The sensation feels really strange. It's almost not pain really... the only way I can describe it is that it feels like when you've got butterflies in your stomach, but imagine the sensation in your left chest, arm and hand instead of your stomach. It's not a constricting, heavy feeling like a heartattack would be. It's really bizarre and I've always been curious about the biological basis for it.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThe typical symptoms of chest pain are:
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisChest “tightness,” “squeezing,” or “heaviness.” People describe this feeling as a weight or as a band being tightened around their chest. The pain is usually located on the left side of the chest above the bottom of the ribcage, but it’s often hard to define its exact location.Shortness of breath. Sweating, nausea, and an anxious feeling. A pain in the left arm, neck and jaw.
Visit site for more details:
http://www.insideheart.com/causes-of-chest-pain.html
dear jwexler,
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisyou seem to know whats going on with this heart break thing i dont uderstand it ive had this light pain in my cheast for over a year after breaking up with my love and every time i see her picture it hurts more instently i cant take it anymore no one can give me an answer can you?
I think the title says the article will explore the connection between feelings and heartache. Some of us are interested because if a feeling causes the heartache, looking up in the sky will not make the feeling go away.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisIn my case the cause of the nerves being so active is in the head, so I wish I could just switch it off. :)
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisSince that is in the middle, maybe we are not talking about the same thing. My pain may start on the left side of the neck, traveling down further left to surround the heart. Maybe more pain above the heart. While this is temporary, the muscle tension in my solder and left side of the back been the for a decade, also points to nerve.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisSo what is interesting is what controls that nerve. And if the control is in your next post, (don't care, isolation from others, putting up walls, disconnecting from your feelings) then no thanks. I could write a lot more about what is wrong with your attitude. society would thank me :)
Esophageal spasm is in the middle. The posting just goes at the end not after what I replied to.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisStuwy, you said it right. It's not a good spot to be in but we don't have choice. If choice is not to care, we don't have choice. I think if we would live in a smaller community it would be easier. The thing about empathy is that it seem to work even if they are on tv half a world away. I would say it even works in a fictional situation.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisJust the other day it was on the tv that not just children are effected thinking that something bad they see over and over again effects them every time, but we are effected too just by watching. Creates stress if I remember well, but non sensitive people are not affected as much. Middle road would be the best.
loveandwar
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this" i cant take it anymore no one can give me an answer can you? "
Interestingly the article had some answers. Interesting how important touch is for example. I think it comes from the contact we had when we were small. Try to find some.
Keersten,
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisYour pain is similar to mine. Not like others describe it(in the middle, chest tightness). It's on the left and muscle reaction to nerve activity. Unfortunately it can be continuous. Emotions activate it. To get pain, it's mostly sadness, loss. To lesser emotions I get sweating.
.. you realize that most operating systems have accessibility options to make text as well as everything else on the page bigger right? and almost every browser you can hold control and roll your mouse wheel up to zoom. You don't have to make everyone else suffer..
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisTo Scotty133t
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisYou realize you are some kind of OCD sicko. What the HELL DO YOU CARe IF i use caPS or nOT. What the fuck! Go pOLisH youR coMMoDe Or triM youRRRR NOse HAiRRSsss OR shIT and GGGO /blINd. LiKKKe ME. DIck HeAAD
The rarely known thing about the pain associated with rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis besides affecting the extremities (fingers, hands and feet) and the hip and knee is that they also cause severe bouts of pain in the chest.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisMan and women can be affected by chest arthritis but it is mostly women who are commonly stricken by this symptom and the pain is no laughing matter and the condition can even be life threatening.
This has been a very interesting discussion.I am never surprised but often amazed at how humans respond. I hope those above who are in some emotional pain do look up at the sky and take 10 deep breaths and see how well this works. It is an ancient remedy called Aruvatic. It relaxes the esophagus. It works if you will just try it.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this