How the nervous system links emotion to physical sensation

The relationship between emotion and physical sensation is more direct than many people realize.

A racing heart during fear, tension in the muscles during stress, a feeling of nausea before an important event or a sense of heaviness during sadness are familiar examples. These experiences aren’t imagined. They reflect continuous communication between the brain and the body.

For a clinician, understanding this communication is particularly important when assessing persistent pain and other physical symptoms.