Hurt vs Pain

Does the brain know the difference between hurt and pain?

If we define hurt as a social-emotional injury and pain as a physical injury, then my brain’s opinion is that the brain may know the difference—since it does not process physical and social-emotional injuries identically. There is some differentiation in the brain between where pain versus hurt is decoded. However, brain imaging studies have shown that there is also some overlap between the two regions. Metaphorically, think of this as mashed potatoes versus baked potatoes. The brain knows there is a difference in appearance and somewhat in taste, yet ultimately still identifies them both as potatoes. Bottom line: social hurt and physical pain both create discomfort. Make no mistake, a broken heart may hurt as much as a broken bone