Love has always been one of the biggest mysteries to humans. An enigma, if you will. A question with no answer. A ceaseless fascination since antiquity, that not even the brightest of philosophers could understand. Artists have tried to capture its beauty and darkness in books, paintings, poetry and songs. Yet after all of these interpretations, no one could really depict what love in its true form really is. And while the human race is still trying to figure out whether love is a feeling or a necessity, science has provided us with a more logical explanation.
It is quite ironic to try to find a rational statement for a behaviour that has been studied for decades, yet remains one of the biggest question marks in human behavioral psychology. What we know for sure as of today is that love happens less in the heart and more in the brain. Beneath the flushed cheeks, there is a series of complex chemical reactions that take place between the brain and the body when we fall in love.
These chemicals in our brain are called neurotransmitters, and they play a crucial role in how we experience attraction or emotional connections.
Dopamine, also known as the “feel-good” neurotransmitter, is responsible for euphoric feelings, in this case, falling in love. Dopamine levels usually surge when we experience something rewarding or pleasurable. The early stages of a relationship are usually marked by a rush of dopamine, creating feelings of excitement and obsession. That is why the beginning of romantic relationships feels so thrilling – our brain is rewarding us for creating an emotional bond.
Oxytocin, also known as the “love hormone”, plays a crucial role in long-lasting relationships. It is released during physical contact, like hugging or kissing, and it is responsible for making us feel protective over our partners. It creates feelings of trust and attachment, helping to strengthen emotional connections between two people.
Another important neurotransmitter is serotonin. Serotonin is responsible for regulating our sleep, appetite and mood, but it also plays an important role in romance. When you are infatuated with someone, serotonin levels tend to rise. That is why, in the early stages of a relationship, you find yourself constantly thinking about your significant other and your mood rises and falls with the relationship’s status.
As mentioned earlier, love happens more in the brain and less in the heart. When we experience love, different areas of the brain are activated, such as the Ventral Tegmental Area (VTA), the Caudate Nucleus, the Insula and the Anterior Cingulate Cortex.
The VTA is one of the most important parts of the brain in love, as it is responsible for the production of dopamine. Since dopamine is released as a kind of reward, we can conclude that the VTA acts as the brain’s reward system. The Caudate Nucleus and the Insula play an important role in emotional attachment, as they are linked to habit formation and enabling the ability to feel empathy for our partner. Lastly, the Anterior Cingulate Cortex is involved in emotional stability, as it helps us balance the highs and lows that come with every relationship.
We may not understand love from a philosophical point of view, but trying to understand it scientifically enhances our appreciation for this complex emotion. Love is a biological imperative, one that encourages connection, bonding and the joy of companionship.
