Valentine's Day: Falling in love usually begins when a person begins to see another person as special and unique. The early stage of falling in love is a peak neurobiological state, characterized by a high reactivity and high passion.
What happens to our body and brain: Love dominates our popular culture and is the subject of countless songs, movies, literature, and art. But what happens in our bodies when we feel the love? Love is difficult to define, but it can be described as an intense feeling of deep affection. At the most basic level, science views love as a mixture of chemicals released by the brain.
From an evolutionary view, romantic love evolved from a primitive animal desire to find and keep a favorite partner. Love keeps people bound and committed to each other from childhood to raising children. It ensures that our species can reproduce, survive and thrive.
However, romantic love is not only about procreation. Some argue that we should consider love to be a motivation, like hunger, thirst, sleep, or sex. There are many benefits of loving others and being loved. These include improved mental health, well-being, and immune function, and decreased chronic stress and illness.
What happens when one falls in love for the first time?
According to a study, falling in love usually begins when a person begins to see the other person as special and unique. The early stage of falling in love is a peak neurobiological state, characterized by a high reactivity and high passion. Lust and attraction are driven by the sex hormones, estrogen, and testosterone, as the motivation for sex.
When you fall in love, specific areas of the brain are activated, especially the limbic system and the reward center. The limbic system plays an important role in emotion and memory. This causes a positive mood and explains why the memories associated with new love are so strong.
There is also an increase in dopamine and noradrenaline. Dopamine stimulates the reward pathways and increases motivation and obsessive thoughts and behaviors to pursue a love interest. Noradrenaline causes feelings of euphoria, and the physical reactions are a faster heart rate, butterflies in the stomach, and increased energy.
At the same time, other areas of the brain become inactive. Reduced activity in the frontal cortex lowers negative emotions and decisions. This explains why people may initially be blind to the shortcomings of the person they love. But when you are feeling unable to reach a decision, cortisol, stress, and insecurity also increase in the initial phase of falling in love.
How does romantic love change over time?
The initial phase of falling in love and intense infatuation lasts for several months. During the next stage, intimacy, commitment, and attachment increase. It is governed by the hormones oxytocin and vasopressin. Oxytocin helps us feel secure after the initial high of cortisol and stress of uncertainty and risk of falling in love.
There is a balance between oxytocin and vasopressin to connect with others, while also protecting the person you love and yourself. Oxytocin is often called the hormone of love because it facilitates the formation of social bonds and relationships. However, new research in animal models suggests that oxytocin is not as essential to lifelong pair bonding as previously thought.
Sexual activity is different from love, but it strengthens attachment. When we touch, kiss, or have sex, oxytocin, and vasopressin are released, which promote love and commitment between a couple.
Years in a romantic relationship are often a period of transition from passionate love to companionate love. High intimacy and commitment help to maintain this love. Some relationships fizzle out at this point due to low passion, while other couples remain in a phase of passionate love for decades.
What about non-romantic love?
Beyond its role in romantic love, oxytocin is important in all forms of love, including with family, friends, and even pets. Positive social relationships and oxytocin have many benefits on human health, well-being, and longevity. In our research, we have shown that oxytocin is associated with better quality of life and healthier social relationships in people with and without depression.
