THE age-old question, pondered by many throughout history, has a scientific explanation behind it to help us understand the illogical and maddening emotions we feel when Cupid’s arrow strays our way.
Few things feel as effortless as the early stages of ‘true love’ or the love felt by a mother for her child, but the reality is rather more complex. A cocktail of hormones and complex physiological interactions make us ‘feel’ in love. In essence, it turns out the science behind love is simpler than we might think.
The three main chemicals that increase when two people fall in love are dopamine, adrenaline and norepinephrine. Dopamine creates feelings of euphoria while adrenaline and norepinephrine are responsible for the pitter-patter of the heart, restlessness and overall preoccupation that go along with experiencing love.
There are three phases of love, which include lust, attraction and attachment. Lust is a hormone-driven phase where we experience desire. Blood flow to the pleasure center of the brain happens during the attraction phase, when we feel an overwhelming fixation with our partner.
This behavior eventually fades during the attachment phase, when the body develops a tolerance to the pleasure stimulants. Endorphins and hormones, vasopressin and oxytocin, also flood the body at this point creating an overall sense of well-being and security that is conducive to a lasting relationship.
Whether you laid eyes on your true love last week or are in your 30th year of marriage, there’s no denying love makes the world go round.
Happy St.Valentines Day!
