Reading and writing fill in the blanks
Fear that makes you vomit, the sting of a rejection, paralysing grief – emotional pain can in many physical symptoms. And while writers and musicians have spun tales and crafted songs intertwining physical and emotional pain for centuries, scientists have found it more difficult to describe the relationship between the two. Now, recent breakthroughs are shedding on the shared mechanisms that underlie both kinds of pain, offering an explanation as to why one leads to the other and providing for treating some of our most debilitating conditions. While senses like vision and hearing have nerve pathways that can be traced from the eyes and ears to a distinct brain region, brain activity in response to pain is more complex. It thoughts and emotions, which is why a good book can lessen a toothache, for instance, or the pain from a hot probe hurts more when you feel sad.