EVER FEEL LIKE your heart has been ripped out? That might not be just a metaphorical concept.

When you suffer physical pain, it is registered in the anterior cingulate cortex in the brain.

“Surprisingly, it’s the same region of the brain that’s activated when you feel excluded or experience the loss of a social relationship,” say the folks at AsapSCIENCE.

They explain how social bonds became an important part of the evolutionary process – they can literally mean the difference between surviving or not. As a result, the body and brain has developed to register emotional pain as being as important a cue to note as that of physical pain.

If we didn’t feel the need to be ‘included’ – in a relationship, romantic or otherwise – the social bonds would be weakened and our race would be under threat.

Watch more about the physical reaction to an emotional stimulus here – and how to make it better:

And you thought your break-up was bad…>
Scientists discover new reason why humans began walking on two feet>
NASA-funded Maynooth research project makes evolution breakthrough>

Making a difference

A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

For the price of one cup of coffee each week you can make sure we can keep reliable, meaningful news open to everyone regardless of their ability to pay.

Support us Learn More