Is it possible that humans developed swearing as a pain-management technique? British scientists think so. "It taps into emotional brain centers and appears to arise in the right brain, whereas most language production occurs in the left cerebral hemisphere of the brain. Our research shows one potential reason why swearing developed and why it persists," Richard Stephens, pointing to a study in which 64 volunteers were able to keep their hands in a tub of ice water while swearing longer than they could while uttering a non-sweary word. As anyone who has ever felt the deep relief that letting loose a long and loud "motherFUCKER" in the aftermath of an accident will attest, there's something to it. Not yet understood: Why you can handle most blows to the body or to the extremities, but when you get smacked in the head and someone asks if you're okay your first response is always an angry, "Fuck you, I'm fine!"
wait - the "left cerebral hemisphere" is in the "right brain?" Is that the other left, or the correct brain?
I learned all my swears on the playground that is the Awl
I can attest to the healing powers of "MOTHERfucker!", broke a toe last week and bellowed this until the pain faded enough to hobble to the bathroom for surgical tape.
Now they can research whether swearing enables you to kick the shit out of someone more effectively.