Love is a powerful force that has inspired countless songs, works of art, and acts of kindness. It can also lead to deep sadness, trauma, and even death, whether through suicide or by those who die from broken hearts. Love has the power to distance friends, bring immense happiness, give life meaning, and even start wars. While we understand its emotional and societal impacts, science still has a lot to learn about its biological effects. Most of our knowledge so far is about how love affects the brain rather than the heart.
Here’s a look at the neurological effects of love:
### Lust and Attraction
Usually, love starts with physical attraction. During the early stages of a relationship, known as the attraction phase, the brain floods our bodies with dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine. These hormones, which are linked to feelings of euphoria, are the same ones released by the drug ecstasy. High levels of serotonin are also found in people with obsessive-compulsive disorder, which might explain the obsessive behaviors sometimes seen in love.
A protein molecule called Nerve Growth Factor appears in high concentrations in couples at the beginning of their relationship but tends to decrease over time, typically returning to normal after about a year.
### Long-term Bonds
Oxytocin and vasopressin are two hormones associated with long-term bonding and strong attachments. These hormones are found in high levels in couples who have been together for many years and are believed to be released steadily throughout long-term relationships.
### Your Brain on Love
Modern brain scans show that the Media Insula region and the Anterior Cingulate Cortex are activated by feelings of love. The Media Insula is responsible for instinct, while the Anterior Cingulate Cortex handles feelings of euphoria.
### Love and the Limbic System
Another theory about love is related to the connection between the nervous systems of closely bonded individuals. Some believe our nervous systems are attuned to those we love, so when we sense pleasure in our loved ones, it makes us feel pleasure too, enhancing our feelings of love.
Despite all the scientific insights we can gather, it’s unlikely that any explanation will fully capture what love is. Just as musicians and artists have long tried to express their understanding of this powerful force, science will keep exploring it—always finding new ways to describe it, but never quite capturing it completely.