Love: A Social Construct or Just Science?

Published by on November 27, 2023

Despite the ridicule behind Love is Blind and The Bachelorette, the complex bridge that connects the realm of human emotions with the scientific understanding of our bodies does exist, in the form of love. From a scientific perspective, the early stages of falling in love behave similarly to the consumption of cocaine, with both processes triggering feelings of euphoria and influencing the same regions of the brain (Nordqvist, 2010).

The process of falling in love is a combination of various neurotransmitters, chemicals, and hormones that function simultaneously to trigger the reward circuit of the human brain. The process produces physiological and emotional stimuli such as racing hearts, sweaty palms feelings of passion, and anxiety (Edwards, 2015). In that ‘love at first sight’ moment, it would take just a fifth of a second to experience a flurry of in-love feelings according the The Journal of Sexual Medicine (Ortigue, et al., 2010). Through the early stages of love, the stress hormone cortisol becomes secreted more often, as the newfound rush of emotions creates a state of ‘crisis’ amongst the body’s homeostasis (Tafet, et al., 2001). The increased secretion of cortisol depletes the levels of tryptophan available, an essential building block for serotonin, whilst also reducing the density and reactivity of serotonin receptors (Edwards, 2015). The low concentration of the serotonin neurotransmitter creates infatuation and obsession behaviours amongst new lovers. Figure 1 showcases the relationship between the serotonin uptake concentration and the increasing cortisol concentration.

Figure 1: The negative, direct correlation between serotonin uptake and afternoon cortisol concentration, adding emphasis on how low levels of serotonin create obsessive feelings amongst new lovers (Tafet, et al., 2001).

With the use of fMRIs and PET scans, anthropologist Helen Fisher conducted a groundbreaking lab testing over 2500 students in the clutches of love, revealing the illuminating changes across the brain. The caudate nucleus, putamen, and ventral tegmental areas of the brain showcase the greatest activity within the specific neurochemical pathways attributed to love (Edwards, 2015). Through extensive research and testing, it is now understood that these regions are associated with reward, pleasure, and satisfaction systems along with hosting the neurological basis of euphoric emotion (Ortigue, et al., 2010). Figure 2 is an exemplary fMRI scan depicting the different areas of the human brain that can show the greatest activity under feelings of love.

Figure 2: An fMRI image identifying the areas containing a higher frequency of activity and reaction concentrations, in direct correlation with feelings of love. Adapted from (Pierre, 2016).

John Bowlby’s attachment postulates how the different forms of affection and relationships with caregivers can shape different attachment styles in people, and in turn, determine the nature of how love appeals to them throughout life. Those raised with responsibility and a consistent source of support find love within intimate, mentally strong partners who can fulfil the role of a beam of support (Cherry, 2023). Others with a more avoidant, emotionally unavailable caregiver tend to gravitate towards a more independent, free-willed love. Such attachment styles can branch widely: the basis of love can be credited to childhood experiences, and through recognition and mutual support, couples can work to foster healthier and sustainable connections (Cherry, 2023).

Through the studies of serotonin neurotransmitter release, dopamine feedback loops, fMRI scans, and Bowlby’s attachment theories, falling in love can be said to be safely scientifically reinforced.

References:

Cherry, K., 2023. What is attachment theory? [online] Verywell Mind. Available at: https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-attachment-theory-2795337. [Accessed 26 November 2023].

Edwards, S., 2015. Love and the Brain | Harvard Medical School. [online] hms.harvard.edu. Available at: https://hms.harvard.edu/news-events/publications-archive/brain/love-brain#:~:text=When%20we%20are%20engaged%20in [Accessed 27 November 2023].

Nordqvist, C., 2010. Falling In Love Hits The Brain Like Cocaine Does. [online] www.medicalnewstoday.com. Available at: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/205973#1. [Accessed 23 November 2023].

Ortigue, S., Bianchi-Demicheli, F., Patel, N., Frum, C., Lewis, J.W., 2010. Neuroimaging of Love: fMRI Meta-Analysis Evidence toward New Perspectives in Sexual Medicine, The Journal of Sexual Medicine. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1743-6109.2010.01999.x

Pierre, J., 2016. Your Brain in Love | Psychology Today Ireland. [online] www.psychologytoday.com. Available at: https://www.psychologytoday.com/ie/blog/psych-unseen/201602/your-brain-in-love [Accessed 27 November 2023].

Tafet, G.E., Toister-Achituv, M., Shinitzky, M., 2001. Enhancement of serotonin uptake by cortisol: A possible link between stress and depression. Cognitive, Affective, & Behavioral Neuroscience, 1(1), pp.96–104. https://doi.org/10.3758/cabn.1.1.96.