• Question: can people be heartbroken

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      Asked by jana to Anais, katy, Lauren, Richard, Stuart on 8 Mar 2016.
      • Photo: Lauren Laing

        Lauren Laing answered on 8 Mar 2016:

        Hi Jana,
        I am not an expert on hearts! But I can try and answer your question; perhaps the other scientists will have another perspective also. I believe that a broken heart is a common metaphor for sadness experienced because of losing something or someone. Thankfully, although it could be an incredibly sad time when someone says they feel heart broken, I understand that their heart is not actually broken or damaged physically.

      • Photo: Stuart Atkinson

        Stuart Atkinson answered on 8 Mar 2016:

        Hi Jane. I am no expert on biology, but Lauren’s right about the phrase. People actually used to think that the physical heart was the place where emotions were held. So perhaps we should say brainbroken instead.

        Despite that, people can most certainly feel heartbroken.

      • Photo: Anais Kahve

        Anais Kahve answered on 9 Mar 2016:

        Hello, I would agree with the other scientists! If someone says they are heartbroken, it doesn’t actually mean that their heart is broken, it means that they are sad about something.

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