Does terrible grammar just mildly annoy you? New research reveals grammar mistakes trigger a physical stress response.
Researchers at the University of Birmingham in the UK discovered a direct correlation between instances of poor grammar and test subjects’ Heart Rate Variability (HRV).
Catch up quick: HRV captures the time between heartbeats. More variation indicates a relaxed state, while a more regular heartbeat indicates stress.
- In the study, HRV was measured while the participants listened to sentences.
Why It Matters
The findings indicate a profound connection between language, cognition, and physiology, presenting new possibilities for assessing linguistic skills and understanding.
A closer look
Grammatic errors activated the "fight or flight" nervous system, indicating significant subconscious stress.
- Hearing bad grammar reduced the subjects’ HRV (a more steady heart rhythm).
- The more grammatical errors, the more reduction in HRV.
- This is the first evidence that HRV can objectively gauge language knowledge.
The bottom line: We react viscerally to language, even if we can't explain why something sounds wrong.
What's next
Scientists plan to use this technique with people who cannot verbally express their opinions due to age or illness, tapping into otherwise unobservable cognition.
1 big idea: Our bodies and minds are interconnected. Just as our cognition affects our physiology, physical responses can offer insight into unspoken thought processes.
