The Brain When in Love
Is there any scientific definition of love? Maybe not. But there is no end to the headache of scientists about love.
In Greek mythology, people fall in love only when Cupid strikes someone with his sword. But science says otherwise. Science believes that love is a long-term disorder of the human brain. Although love has long been an exclusive concern of philosophers and poets. However, scientists have also thought about this love. Science says there is actual science to love.
The Science of Falling in Love
Falling in love is affected by huge, but measurable changes in brain biochemistry. Science has identified three basic parts of love. Each brain is powered by a unique mix of chemicals.
Falling in love is regulated by the hormones estrogen and testosterone in both men and women. By adrenaline, dopamine, and serotonin attraction is driven. These chemicals are released in the brain by exciting and novel experiences.
Long-term attachment is regulated by a different set of hormones and brain chemicals. Scientists believe that oxytocin and vasopressin in the brain promote bonding.
Interestingly, oxytocin is called the cuddle hormone. And this hormone is what makes the bond between mother and baby stronger. Each of these chemicals acts on a specific part of the brain to affect libido, attraction, and attachment.
Science Show:
Science has also shown that the process of falling in love can be rushed in some cases. In this case, Eyes play an important role. A small study found that people who talked deeply with a perfect stranger for 30 minutes and then looked into each other’s eyes for four minutes felt a deeper and more lasting connection. A couple even went to get married!
What scientists also notice is that people who fall in love have a different head structure than those who do not fall in love. Because of this variation in structure, some people never fall in love and some people keep falling in love.
Many are unable to control their emotions and do not hesitate to commit suicide due to this hormonal effect on the brain. Again someone is seen to fall in love again and again. Scientists claim that this is also the effect of hormones.
Although the relationship of the heart with love is given more importance, the brain should also be given importance from now on. Because only brain hormones can tell whether the right person of your choice will walk with you till the end of life or not. And under the influence of this hormone, your heart will constantly announce its existence.
Now it’s Time to Fall in Love – Step by Step
1. First came the ‘hypothalamus’:
It starts releasing ‘dopamine’ in the body, and it feels euphoric, the beginning of great romance; What joy is flowing in the body!
2. Regulate Person’s Mood and Appetite:
Meanwhile, as the level of dopamine increases, another chemical ‘serotonin’ decreases. Serotonin has no shortage of functions, but its relevant functions are to regulate a person’s mood and appetite. Serotonin levels are low in people who are depressed or moody.
3. Nerve Growth Factor:
Along with dopamine, a substance’s nerve growth factor is produced in the body. Among those who are newly in love, this object is greater.
People who have recently been in love have lower levels of nerve growth factor (NGF) than people who have not been in love or been in a long-term relationship. Another thing, there is a direct relationship with the amount of NGF romantic feelings.
4. Hormones Oxytocin and Vasopressin:
The hormones oxytocin and vasopressin are no less important. Their role is more in connection, binding each other in commitment. These two hormones come from the hypothalamus. They are then stored in the posterior lobe of the pituitary, from where they are released into the body as needed.
When intense emotional arousal is on the verge of climaxing, these two hormones enter the bloodstream. These two hormones have a valuable contribution to a lasting relationship or love.
5. Affect Different Parts of the Brain:
Then these two hormones affect different parts of the brain. Its actions and reactions have different responses in the body. Increases activity in the romantic center of the brain, affecting the amygdala.
Judgment decreases – people in love become fearless. A bond is formed between two people, love is fulfilled. Romeo-Juliet, Lyly and Majnu, Mark Antony and Cleopatra, Occius and Eurybis, these unequal loves are all hormones and chemicals. Who knows when Cupid’s golden rod pierced whom.
Falling in love like a madman does not judge the quality of the loved one: many do not recognize that this love of impermanence can only be understood by the explanation of science.
But how falling in love with that special someone happens is terrifying. Is falling in love more complicated, is there a more complex secret hidden elsewhere, which is still undiscovered? Who knows? Simple numbers can only match the result of love.
Five Different Effects of Love on the Brain and Body!
There is a lot of research going on about how love affects people’s lives. And it goes without saying that love has a huge impact on the human brain and body. Exactly how does love affect the human brain and body? You will be surprised to know the effects of love on the human brain and body!
1) The Brain is Flooded with Hormones
Brain researchers divide love into three stages. Desire, love, and loyalty. The desire phase is the first, and it literally floods the body with hormones. Adrenaline and norepinephrine cause heart rate to increase, and palms to sweat. In addition, dopamine creates a feeling of euphoria. It feels like taking a drug.
2) Acts as a Painkiller
This phenomenon can happen even before falling in love. Seeing an attractive face reduces pain. This feeling also works in the same part of the brain that painkillers like morphine work on, thereby reducing body pain. And since the attraction towards the loved one is more, the pain of the body is reduced a lot due to its effect.
3) Blood Circulation in the Brain is Very High
The “pleasure center” of the brain receives a large blood supply when falling in love. And this phenomenon usually happens in the second stage of love, when two people start thinking about prolonging their relationship with each other.
4) Creates “OCD” Symptoms in the Brain
“OCD” or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is a condition where people become stubborn about doing something. Even when falling in love, it happens that the person in love does not see any fault in his partner, and forgives all the faults. The first stage of love is when everything the partner does feels good.
5) Hormones Create Long-Term Affection
After loving someone for some time, people develop a feeling of loyalty and dependence. Then the brain does not feel euphoric as before, but due to the release of two hormones named oxytocin and vasopressin in the brain, a sense of security and stability is created in the brain. As a result, people want to settle down with that partner.
Brain Response to Failure in Love:
Just as falling in love is a pleasant feeling, failure in love is an unbearable feeling. Even some people want to commit suicide, even though there are numerous examples of this.
A few days ago, for the man who had the desire to live for a thousand years, why is there so much pain in his departure? Although it seems a bit unusual, this condition of the brain is not an exception.
The parts of the brain involved in floating in the tide of happiness are the same parts involved in drowning in the ocean of sadness. A group of researchers conducted an experiment to find an explanation for the behavior of people when they fail in love.
Let us explain that test:-
15 middle-aged college-going youth volunteers were selected for the study. Only those who were deeply in love some time ago and have recently failed in love are taken. This complete response is recorded in a type of magnetic resonance imaging machine (functional magnetic resonance imaging or fMRI).
Volunteers are monitored for approximately 63 days from the time they are first rejected. Surprisingly, every participant scored the highest on a psychological test called the Passionate Love Scale. This test measures feelings of passionate love.
Every contestant says they spend 85 percent of their waking hours thinking about the person who rejected them. They hope that the person they love is thinking of them too, maybe calling and pulling them back together.
Next, each participant was shown a picture of their ex-lover. At the same time, they are asked to do a simple number or calculation. For example, everyone is told to count backward by four numbers in sequence, holding a fixed number. Suppose the number is 100. Then the count is called like this 100,96,92,88,84…..
This is done to distract the participant’s brain from romantic feelings. He is looking at the picture of the person he loves but has to count the number backward. Naturally, the brain is busy. At the end of this process, everyone is now shown a picture of a neutral person who is familiar. For example, a picture of a friend’s brother, a picture of a neighborhood shopkeeper, or a picture of a neighbor is shown.
Now it’s time to know the result.
Researchers observed throughout this time that when participants were shown pictures of their ex-boyfriends, certain areas of the brain were stimulated. But those areas did not respond in that sense when shown pictures of familiar people. The below picture is given the parts of the brain that are stimulated:-
The midbrain ventral tegmental area, typically plays a role in motivation, reward, and romantic feelings.
Nucleus accumbens and part of the pre-frontal cortex. Which plays a role in various types of addiction, including hunger. For example, drug addiction or drug addiction.
Insular cortex and anterior cingulate. They collectively respond to physical distress and depression.
Analyzing these Results, the Researchers Came to the Conclusion:
“Love is a goal-oriented state of exertion or motivation. Failure in love turns into a certain type of addiction.”
Those who fail in love, are constantly at war with themselves for survival. During this period of psycho-physical conflict, he gets involved with various addictions. Sometimes with drugs and sometimes with anger at life and suicide.
When rejected in love, the person does not forget his partner but begins to feel more than before. As Aharnish thinks about her, the regret of not being able to get to her plunges the person into a sea of despair.
Researchers believe that we suffer more when we break an arm or a leg than we do when we are rejected in love. Even after many years, the pain of losing a loved one comes back. If you look closely, this is a temporary solution but brilliant.
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Bottom Line:
Failing in love doesn’t mean it’s all over. It’s just a part of life. Hidden from the eyes means hidden from the mind. Accepting the word and not recalling the memory of the ex-partner. If there is a photo of him, remove it. After all love, love is the name of a mental state. The brain is controlling this entire process with its masterful skill.
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Image Sources: Pixabay.
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