What can science tell us about the pain of a broken heart? ⏲️ 6 Minute English

Hi Georgie. Hi Neil. Now, I want you to think back to the last time you had your heart broken. How did it feel? It was a couple of years ago. And I just remember a really intense, sad emotion. But it also sometimes feels like a physical pain in your stomach, doesn't it? It does. It's like real pain, isn't it?

And today, in 6 Minute English, we're talking about heartbreak. Now, heartbreak is the feeling of sadness we get when we lose someone we love. And that pain you feel, it's not just imaginary. In this podcast, we'll be understanding how our brains change when we fall in love and asking the question, why does heartbreak hurt so much?

And as usual, we'll be learning some useful new vocabulary. You can find the full list and the definitions at bbclearningenglish.com. Georgie, we're going to start with a quiz question. Are you ready? I am very ready. So, in the 1950s, psychologists noticed a link between children's early bonds with their parents and their romantic relationships as adults,

but what is this theory called? Is it: a) contraction theory, b) attachment theory, or c) superstition theory? I think it's b) attachment theory. OK. Well, we will find out at the end of the programme. What's going on in our brains when we fall in love? Well, scientists have scanned people's brains while they're looking

at a photo of their romantic partner. And they found that looking at someone you're in love with activates a part of the brain that also reminds us to eat and drink. And do scientists know why being in love impacts our brain in this way? So, it's all about survival. Our brains have evolved to be this way.