Newsletter

December 4, 2005 Keeping An Open Mind

Most of us are acquainted with, or at least have heard of the expression, "love is blind". When two people have "chemistry" between them they often appear to change from a normal version of themselves to some sort of possessed and obsessed version. Who hasn't seen one of their friends lose all semblance of sanity when love takes over?

We have always known that the changes taking place in starry eyed lovers are powerful but now we know that they are a force of nature. There are clear biological explanations for the crazy feelings people experience when they fall in love. Unfortuantely some people expect the intensity of those feelings to continue if they stay in the relationship.

Lasting relationships have been able somehow to morph those original feelings into longer lasting feelings of mature love, caring and contentment. "Love junkies" often look for a dopamine fix when their brain chemistry has settled into the relationship. They can become disappointed when they no longer feel that original love surge and not want to settle for more normal feelings.

This month's newsletter is about the effects of love on the brain. The original article ... Please read on

LOVE AND THE BRAIN

How Love Lights You Up...

When you're in love your eyes light up, your face lights up -- and so do four tiny portions of your brain.

Neurobiologists Andreas Bartels and Semir Zeki of University College in London used MRI brain scans to peer into the brains of college students in the throes of that crazed, can't- think-of-anything-else stage of early romantic love.

When the subjects were shown photographs of their sweethearts, the MRI images showed that four parts of their brains 'lit up.'

The researchers compared the MRI images to brain scans taken from people in different emotional states, including sexual arousal, feelings of happiness and cocaine-induced euphoria.

But the pattern for romantic love was unique. Interestingly, looking at a picture of their loved one also reduced activity in three portions of the brain active when one is upset or depressed.

Is Love Addictive?

When you fall in love your skin flushes, you breathe heavy, and your palms tend to sweat.

Why? Because your brain is experiencing a biochemical rush of dopamine, norepinephrine and phenylethylamine -- close chemical cousins to am... Please read on