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Why Is Heartbreak So Painful?

Ella Al-Shamahi investigates if the pain of a broken heart is just a metaphor, or something that has an evolutionary purpose.

In this episode, Ella Al-Shamahi delves into the origins of a broken heart. Words or phrases that use ‘heart pain’ to describe emotional pain appear in many languages, suggesting it is present in many cultures. Studies show that looking at photos of ex-partners within six months of a break-up triggers the same areas of the brain as physical pain. And as odd as it sounds, just like with physical pain, painkillers can act on feelings of a broken heart. So why is it so painful? TV and Radio Presenter Clara Amfo comes on to talk about love, break-ups and heartbreak. Dr Freddy van der Veen, Associate Professor of Psychology at Erasmus University in Rotterdam reveals the very real signals that travel from our brain to our heart, which may have served an evolutionary purpose.

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15 minutes

Last on

Sun 7 Apr 2024 19:45

Broadcasts

  • Fri 28 Oct 2022 14:45
  • Thu 4 Apr 2024 21:45
  • Sun 7 Apr 2024 19:45

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