http://www.helium.com/items/774801-what-goes-on-in-our-brain-when-we-fall-in-love
by CD Gozz <http://www.helium.com/users/165295/show_articles>
Love is the state of being when all reason seems to go out the window.
The euphoria, elation, and excitement make our bodies tingle with
anticipation of being with the person of our desires. But what really is
going on inside our heads when we fall in love?
We all believe love to be an emotion, but according to Drs. Helen Fisher
and Lucy Brown our bodies are hardwired for love. In a 1996 study, newly
enamored college students were given photos of their amours while
undergoing a brain MRI. Two areas showed the greatest activity the
caudate and the ventral tegmental area. Interestingly enough, the
caudate area is associated with rewards and pleasure while the ventral
tegmental area produces dopamine; a neurotransmitter involved with
impulse and gratification. This is also the precursor to epinephrine the
fight or flight hormone.
Dr. Brown determined that when experiencing these sensations of love,
the caudate area is inundated with dopamine which gives one a euphoric
feeling. Dr. Fisher explains that love elicits such a strong response
that it dominates physical needs such as hunger and thirst. This is why
when you are in love, you cannot think of food; only the one you love.
Fisher calls this "a basic mating drive, stronger than the sex drive."
Dopamine is also the hormone associated with addictive behavior. It is
the rise of the dopamine levels that drives the pleasure sensation of
the person in love creating the euphoria and why the heartbreak is so
painful after a breakup. The removal of this pleasure chemical leaves us
feeling deprived and needy; just as does the heroin addict trying to
clean up his act. Once the stimulator of the good feeling is gone, we
long for it again.
Dopamine gives a person the motivation to pursue the object is his
affection. His heart is pounding, pupils dilated, palms are sweaty, is
it love or is it lust?
Dr. Brown indicates that people having brain scans done while viewing
sensual photos (lust) had activity in the hypothalamus and amygdale
areas. The hypothalamus controls the autonomic nervous system
<http://medical-science.helium.com/topic/7975-nervous-system>
temperature, thirst, anger and hunger. The amygdale area is believed to
affect arousal. As indicated with the prior study regarding newly
in-love students, there is not correlation as to where the brain
activities take place. So there is a physiological difference between
love and lust!
Dopamine feeds the fires of lust as it encourages the production of
testosterone, which as we know is what powers our sex drive. But the
reverse is true as well. A rise in testosterone levels will also trigger
an increase in dopamine production. Donatella Marazziti found that in
men, this hormone responsible for aggressiveness and sex drive was
actually lower while in women it was higher, creating more of a balance
between the two.
Another factor in the love chemistry concoction is phenylethylamine
(PEA). This has the reputation, although no hard evidence of being the
hormone of libido. It also has the characteristic as being responsible
for contentment in a loving relationship.
The final but all important hormone of love is oxytocin. This is
released when there is physical touch between lovers or even
mother-child. It is known as the "cuddle hormone" and it plays a
significant role in long term relationships and preventing bonding with
outside influencers.
So how does this work? Researchers are not clear; however there is
significant evidence that oxytocin is able to counter the effects of the
stress hormone cortisol. Studies show this hormone to relieve anxiety,
depression, cravings and been found to induce a peaceful and loving feeling.
The ironic thing about oxytocin is you have to love and nurture by
touch, not sex in order for it to be produced. It cannot be orally
ingested as with a pill and it is only produced during intimate touching
times with the one you love. What a wonderful excuse to go home and wrap
your arms around your spouse!
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