Two recent articles suggest there’s more to the concept of magic realism than we might expect. Articles on NPR and Lit Hub examine the phenomenon of takotsubo cardiomyopathy or broken heart syndrome.
We used to think of heartbreak as a metaphor, but researches have found that falling in love stimulates the parts of the brain responsible for producing stress hormones. When a breakup happens, our brain triggers us to find our romantic partner or feel grateful when they come back. Put another way, we’re biologically conditioned to stress TF out when we experience a break up.
Is there a failed romance in your story? What happened if your character’s heart literally broke? What other emotions might be tied to our physical bodies in ways we don’t yet understand? Think beyond the known reactions to stress, depression, or anger, and let your imagination go wild.
Lit Hub: On “Broken-Heart Syndrome” and the Possibility of Resilience
NPR: Heartbroken? There’s a Scientific Reason Why Breaking Up Feels So Rotten
