No matter how many times you’ve been hurt before or have experienced emotional pains caused by the person you love, the existing pain that you feel is as painful as it was.

You often wonder why despite of the fact that you have been in that situation several times before, the intensity of the pain stays the same still.

So, why do we feel pain when our hearts are broken?

According to a recent UCLA study, psychological pain of a break-up is just as real as physical pain or injury.

Two areas of the brain that responds to physical pain also become active when a person is dealing with social pain, such as being dumped.

(Let him down easy: Tips on Breaking Up.)

Researchers used an MRI to monitor brain activity in participants while they played a game simulating a social rejection. Authors of the study believed that the fear and pain of being rejected motivated humans to seek out social interaction which is very important for the survival in most mammals.

(Looking for a great comedy about breaking up to ease your weary heart? Learn all about Jennifer Aniston’s new movie.)