Have you ever wonder why your heart beats harder, or your hand strat shaking, when your crush is next to you? Actually, there is a scientific reason for all those reactions, and scientists, in particular, neuroscience tried to figure this out.
According to a Harvard's University study, referring to a team of scientists led by Dr Helen Fisher at Rutgers, Love can be divided into three different categories: lust, attraction and attachment. Each category is governed by different hormones, which have specific reactions to our behaviour and way of feeling emotions.
First of all, lust is everything related to sexual gratification, which is the basis of the human's need for reproduction. The hypothalamus of the brain stimulates the production of sex hormones (testosterone and estrogen), driving sexual desire. Moreover, many brain's regions affect love, but the hypothalamus is the most effective one, because of the production of dopamine, oxytocin and vasopressin too. While testosterone produces and increases libido, the situation changes for estrogen, which is less produced.
Meanwhile, attraction seems to be a more complex phenomenon. As we said before, the hypothalamus production of dopamine plays a huge and massive role in how we feel and how we behave. High levels of dopamine and norepinephrine, are the "main characters" during attraction. In particular, norepinephrine is responsible for keeping us alert. That's why we may feel more energized and euphoric. Furthermore, serotonin has a massive impact during attraction, so that a lot of people are affected by a reduction of appetite and changing mood.
Finally, attachment is at the foundation of a long-term relationship. In this case, the two principal hormones are oxytocin and vasopressin, both are produced by the famous hypothalamus. Oxytocin is often nicknamed "cuddle hormone", and it is produced during very different activities such as sex, breastfeeding and childbirth. The common factor is that all those events are precursors to bonding.
But alert: "All that glitters is not gold"!
Even if all those hormones appear positive, there some bad effects too. Dopamine, for example, controls both the good and the bad, being responsible for the vast majority of the brain's reward pathway. We experience surges of dopamine for our virtues and our vices. Too much dopamine in a relationship can underlie unhealthy emotional dependence on our partners. And while healthy levels of oxytocin help us bond and feel warm and fuzzy towards our companions, elevated oxytocin can also fuel prejudice.
To sum up, love can be both the best and worst thing for us, and there is a "chemistry" answer! So, don't worry if you feel a bit "annoyed", jealous or even lost in your partner's eyes, IT IS NOT YOUR FAULT
AT ALL!!!
Oxytocin and dopamine are, remember!
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