Your Brain On Love | Better | NBC News
Summary
TLDRThis video explores the neurological effects of falling in love, highlighting a 2005 study that used functional MRI to show brain activity in reward regions when viewing a romantic partner. It explains the surge of neurotransmitters like dopamine, which causes euphoria, and cortisol, which tries to regulate the physical changes. The video notes that while initial love's intensity may be overwhelming, it typically stabilizes within a year or two, transitioning from a passionate to a companionate form of love, regulated by neurotransmitters like oxytocin and vasopressin.
Takeaways
- 🧠 Falling in love triggers significant brain activity, particularly in regions associated with the reward system.
- ❤️ Neurotransmitters like dopamine flood the brain during love, creating a euphoric feeling similar to drug effects.
- 💓 The physical changes of love, such as a racing heart, are managed by the body's release of cortisol to regulate these responses.
- 🔄 Increased cortisol levels lead to a decrease in serotonin, affecting mood, appetite, sleep, and more.
- 🤔 Early love's intense emotions and physical changes are challenging for the body but are temporary.
- 🕒 The intense feelings of early love typically stabilize within one to two years, shifting to a more companionate love.
- 🔄 The love experience evolves from the influence of dopamine and cortisol to other neurotransmitters like oxytocin.
- 💞 Oxytocin, released during intimacy, helps couples feel closer and fosters bonding.
- 🔗 The hormone vasopressin increases attachment and supports the formation of monogamous relationships.
- 🌟 The transition from passionate to companionate love is a natural progression as the brain's chemistry adjusts.
Q & A
What is the first study mentioned in the script that analyzed the brains of people in love?
-The first study mentioned in the script is a 2005 study that analyzed functional MRI images of the brains of people in love when looking at their romantic partners.
What happens in the brain when a person falls in love according to the script?
-When a person falls in love, their brain lights up in regions associated with the reward center due to the release of several neurotransmitters related to the reward system.
Which neurotransmitter is associated with the euphoric feeling during early stages of love, and how does it compare to the effects of drugs?
-Dopamine is the neurotransmitter associated with the euphoric feeling during early stages of love. It activates a euphoria similar to what's produced by drugs like cocaine.
What is the role of cortisol in the body during the heightened emotions of early love?
-Cortisol, the stress hormone, is sent out by the body to try to regulate the physical changes such as racing heart and increased blood pressure that accompany the heightened emotions of early love.
How does an increase in cortisol levels affect serotonin levels in the context of love?
-An increase in cortisol levels triggers a drop in the amount of serotonin, which is a neurotransmitter that plays an important role in mood, appetite, sleep, attention, judgment, and more.
What are some of the physical and emotional changes that occur during the early stages of love as described in the script?
-During the early stages of love, there are obsessive thoughts, an inability to function as normal, a racing heart, increased blood pressure, and heightened emotions.
How long does it typically take for the 'heady cocktail' of neurotransmitters to level out after falling in love?
-The script indicates that the heady cocktail of dopamine, cortisol, and low serotonin generally levels out and things return to normal within one or two years.
What happens to love after the initial excitement and 'heady cocktail' of neurotransmitters levels out?
-After the initial excitement, love takes a different form regulated by other neurotransmitters like oxytocin, which is released during sex and helps couples feel closer, and increased levels of the hormone vasopressin, which boosts attachment and helps form a monogamous bond.
What role does oxytocin play in the context of romantic love as per the script?
-Oxytocin, released during sex, helps couples feel closer and is part of the transition from the excitement of early romantic love to a calmer companionate love.
How does vasopressin contribute to the formation of a monogamous bond according to the script?
-Vasopressin boosts attachment and helps form a monogamous bond, contributing to the shift from the initial excitement of love to a more stable, long-term connection.
What is the significance of the transition from early romantic love to companionate love as described in the script?
-The transition from early romantic love to companionate love signifies a shift from a period of intense emotions and physical changes to a more stable, long-term form of love that is maintained by different neurotransmitters and hormones.
Outlines
💖 The Neurochemistry of Falling in Love
This paragraph delves into the unique experience of falling in love and its impact on the brain. A 2005 study using functional MRI scans revealed that the brains of individuals in love show heightened activity in reward-related regions when viewing images of their romantic partners. This neural response is attributed to a surge of neurotransmitters associated with the brain's reward system, including dopamine, which is known as the 'feel-good' chemical and can induce euphoria akin to that of cocaine. The body's reaction to these intense emotions includes a racing heart and increased blood pressure, prompting the release of cortisol to regulate these physiological changes. However, elevated cortisol levels can lead to a decrease in serotonin, a neurotransmitter crucial for mood, appetite, sleep, and cognitive functions. The paragraph suggests that while the early stages of love can be overwhelming, the levels of these chemicals typically stabilize over one to two years, leading to a transition from passionate to companionate love. This shift is regulated by other neurotransmitters like oxytocin, which promotes bonding and closeness, and vasopressin, which enhances attachment and supports monogamous relationships.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Falling in love
💡Functional MRI
💡Neurotransmitters
💡Dopamine
💡Cortisol
💡Serotonin
💡Oxytocin
💡Vasopressin
💡Reward center
💡Euphoria
💡Companionate love
Highlights
Falling in love is a unique experience that alters emotions and physical states.
A 2005 study analyzed brain activity in love using functional MRI images.
Lovers' brains light up in reward center regions when viewing their partners.
Neurotransmitters flood the brain during love, affecting the reward system.
Dopamine, the feel-good chemical, is released in high levels during love, causing euphoria.
The body's response to heightened emotions includes a racing heart and increased blood pressure.
Cortisol, the stress hormone, is released to regulate the physical changes of love.
Serotonin levels drop as cortisol levels increase, affecting mood and various functions.
Early love is characterized by obsessive thoughts and an altered ability to function normally.
The intense feelings of early love typically stabilize within one to two years.
Love doesn't fade; it transforms into a more stable companionate love over time.
Oxytocin, released during sex, helps couples feel closer.
Vasopressin boosts attachment and aids in forming monogamous bonds.
The excitement of early romantic love often evolves into a calmer, long-term love.
The study provides insights into the neurochemical changes that accompany romantic love.
The transformation of love from a passionate to a companionate form is a natural progression.
Transcripts
falling in love is an experience like
none other emotions are high homes are
sweaty and nothing is as it was before
this is your brain on where we explore
how the world affects our brains and
ourselves a 2005 study was the first to
analyze functional MRI images of the
brains of people in love when looking at
their romantic partners their brains lit
up in regions associated with a reward
center turns out that's because when we
fall in love several neurotransmitters
related to this reward system flood our
brains making our emotions and our
bodies go haywire high levels of
dopamine also known as the feel-good
chemical activate a euphoria similar to
what's produced by drugs like cocaine
it's a lot for your body to handle this
heightened emotion and the accompanying
physical changes like a racing heart and
increased blood pressure so our bodies
send out cortisol the stress hormone to
try to regulate these changes but as our
cortisol levels increase it triggers a
drop in the amount of serotonin it's a
neurotransmitter that plays an important
role in our mood appetite sleep
attention judgment and more cue and
fashion complete with its obsessive
thoughts and an inability to function as
normal as stimulating as early love can
be it's all a bit wild too but here's
the good news
this heady cocktail of dopamine cortisol
and low serotonin generally levels out
and things return to normal within one
or two years but take heart that doesn't
mean love fades it just takes a
different form regulated by the other
neurotransmitters like oxytocin that's
released during sex and helps couples
feel closer and increased levels of the
hormone vasopressin boosts attachment
and helps form a monogamous bond this is
likely why the excitement of early
romantic love generally morphs into a
calmer companion at love overtime
[Music]
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