Ah, love. Perhaps one of the most studied, and yet least understood, behaviors.
“Love is a biological necessity—it’s as needed for our well-being as exercise, water, and food,” said neuroscientist Stephanie Cacioppo, PhD.
Two decades of research have shown that when it comes to romantic love, a very primitive part of the brain’s reward system is activated first, located in the midbrain. Lucy Brown, PhD, a neuroscientist, and her colleagues used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to study men and women who were “in love” based on their scores from a passionate love scale, a 14-item questionnaire used to examine cognitive, emotional, and behavioral aspects of love that researchers have used for decades. People who score in the highest range are deemed to be wildly in love. Participants in the same study also viewed a photograph of their loved one and a photograph of a familiar person. When viewing the photo of their romantic partner, the participant’s ventral tegmental area (VTA), the part of the brain connected to meeting basic needs, was activated.
When people fall in love, chemicals associated with reward enter the brain, producing both physical and emotional responses– a racing heart, sweaty palms, flushed cheeks– the common symptoms of butterflies in the stomach. Cortisol levels increase during the initial phases of romantic love, causing our bodies to stay on high alert. As cortisol rises, serotonin decreases, which many researchers describe as the “maddeningly preoccupying thoughts, hopes, terrors of early love.” Being in love also releases high levels of dopamine, which activates the reward circuit, helping love to be a pleasurable experience. Interestingly, this is the same feeling of euphoria that a person gets when using cocaine or alcohol.
Oxytocin, often known as the love hormone, deepens a person’s feeling of attachment and makes couples feel closer to one another. It also provokes feelings of contentment, calmness, and security. Vasopressin, another hormone in the body, has been linked to behavior that produces long-term, monogamous relationships. Ongoing research on the difference in behavior due to the actions of oxytocin and vasopressin aims to explain why passionate love fades as attachment grows.
Richard Schwartz, a Harvard professor and couples therapist, notes that “if love lasts, this rollercoaster of emotions, and, sometimes, angst, calms within one or two years. The passion is still there, but the stress of it is gone”. Love, which once was a stressor, becomes a safeguard against stress.
Of course, love extends far beyond romantic relationships. Family members, friends, pets, and activities that bring someone joy can also stimulate the brain’s love pathways. Experiencing different forms of love is necessary for a person’s development and well-being. When these relationships are healthy and positive, an individual feels more confident and has higher self-esteem.
If you’re looking to show love to someone a little extra this Valentine’s Day, try engaging in quality time with them, expressing your gratitude towards them, displaying physical affection, or performing an act of service. Just a little bit of love goes a long way.
