Emotions and the Heart: Exploring the Connection

[Jupiter60]

Despite that emotions actually come from the brain, through language, we usually speak of them coming from the heart. Why is this? Why do we associate emotions with the heart? Is it because of how the heart reacts to emotions as to why primitive people began to associate them with the heart?

 

[Pythagorean]

It goes back as far Aristotle's De Partibus Animalium (parts of animals). Since people couldn't see neurons, I think there was a tendency to assume blood vessels essentially played the role. Blood was often overemphasized in early biological thinking. It was often thought to be the life force... or whatever.

Remember that they could still perform autopsies on the dead, so they were informed by more than just how hearts react subjectively, they were also looking at anatomy (but without microscopes)

"This primary source of the vessels is the heart."
"For the blood is conveyed into the vessels from the heart, but none passes into the heart from without."
"For the heart is the first of all the parts to be formed"

"Again, as neither the blood itself, nor yet any part which is bloodless, is endowed with sensation, it is plain that that part which first has blood, and which holds it as it were in a receptacle, must be the primary source of sensation. And that this part is the heart is not only a rational inference, but also evident to the senses. For no sooner is the embryo formed, than its heart is seen in motion as though it were a living creature, and this before any of the other parts, it being, as thus shown, the starting-point of their nature in all animals that have blood. A further evidence of the truth of what has been stated is the fact that no sanguineous animal is without a heart."

Aristotle's Book:
http://web.archive.org/web/20081017...b.virginia.edu/toc/modeng/public/AriPaan.html

 

[Tosh5457]

I think the predominant reason is that you feel strong emotions in the heart (through some biological mechanisms involving the pumping of blood), not in the brain, because of how the heart reacts to them.

 

[Evo]

I think the predominant reason is that you feel strong emotions in the heart (through some biological mechanisms involving the pumping of blood), not in the brain, because of how the heart reacts to them.

Yes, you feel emotions in your heart/chest, so it was a logical leap to that conclusion. An interesting question would be why do we feel emotions this way?

When people have their feelings hurt, what is actually happening inside the body to cause the physical pain in the chest?

terms such as “heartache” and “gut wrenching” are more than mere metaphors: they describe the experience of both physical and emotional pain. When we feel heartache, for example, we are experiencing a blend of emotional stress and the stress-induced sensations in our chest—muscle tightness, increased heart rate, abnormal stomach activity and shortness of breath. In fact, emotional pain involves the same brain regions as physical pain, suggesting the two are inextricably connected.

But how do emotions trigger physical sensations? Scientists do not know, but recently pain researchers uncovered a possible pathway from mind to body. According to a 2009 study from the University of Arizona and the University of Maryland, activity in a brain region that regulates emotional reactions called the anterior cingulate cortex helps to explain how an emotional insult can trigger a biological cascade. During a particularly stressful experience, the anterior cingulate cortex may respond by increasing the activity of the vagus nerve—the nerve that starts in the brain stem and connects to the neck, chest and abdomen. When the vagus nerve is overstimulated, it can cause pain and nausea.

continued...

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=what-causes-chest-pains

 

[LudusRex]

I would like to address the concept of emotions and the heart being linked together. While it is true that emotions are processed and generated in the brain, the heart does play a role in our emotional experiences. The heart and brain are closely connected through the autonomic nervous system, which controls our bodily functions and responses. This connection allows the heart to send signals to the brain and vice versa, influencing our emotional state.

The association of emotions with the heart may have originated from early human civilizations, where the heart was seen as the center of the body and the source of life. This belief was reinforced by the physical sensations that accompany strong emotions, such as a racing heart or a heavy feeling in the chest. These physical manifestations may have led primitive people to attribute emotions to the heart.

Furthermore, the heart is also closely tied to our breathing and physical movements, which are both affected by our emotions. When we experience intense emotions, our breathing and heart rate can change, leading to the perception that the heart is directly involved in our emotional responses.

It is also worth noting that many languages and cultures have phrases and expressions that associate emotions with the heart. For example, we often say "my heart is heavy" when we are sad or "my heart is racing" when we are anxious. These linguistic patterns may have also contributed to the link between emotions and the heart.

In conclusion, while emotions are primarily generated in the brain, the heart does play a role in our emotional experiences. The association of emotions with the heart may have originated from early human beliefs and reinforced by the physical sensations and linguistic patterns. As scientists, it is important to continue studying the complex relationship between the brain, heart, and emotions in order to gain a deeper understanding of this connection.