We finally have proof that love makes us blind! Researchers from the Australian National University, the University of Canberra, and the University of South Australia have examined how our brains function when we are head over heels in love, and the result is clear: our brains completely scramble and make us see life through rose-colored glasses.
A study on love-struck adults
The researchers have studied the Behavioral Activation System (BAS) of over 1550 young adults claiming to be in love. The BAS is the mechanism through which our minds and bodies react to certain stimuli in order to activate positive emotions and feelings.
It has been scientifically established that when people are with their loved ones, the brain activates oxytocin, also known as the love hormone. "It is known that romantic love affects the brain, releasing the so-called love hormone, oxytocin, which is responsible for the euphoria we feel when falling in love," says a c.Press release on the study.
Oxytocin and dopamine, a deadly combination
However, researchers have also discovered that increased activity in a person's BAS when they are in love leads to the release of dopamine, which combines with oxytocin, making the loved one their number one priority in their mind.
"We know the role of oxytocin in romantic love, as it flows through our nervous system and bloodstream when we interact with our loved ones," explains Dr. Phil Kavanagh, one of the authors of the study. "But it is the combination of oxytocin with dopamine, a chemical that our brain releases during romantic love, that truly makes our loved ones important. Love activates pathways in the brain associated with positive feelings." We can therefore imagine that from there, we only see life through this person, making us blind to everything else.
"In reality, we know that dopamine is commonly associated with pleasure and reward in the brain," says Dr. Kavanagh. "So when oxytocin and dopamine come together during romantic love, it can create a powerful and all-consuming attachment to the loved one."
"Unfortunately, we have very little information on the evolution of romantic love," says doctoral student and co-author of the study, Adam Bode. "Therefore, every discovery that tells us more about the evolution of love is an important new piece of the puzzle." [Image: A couple in love] [Source: Le Bonbon] [To delve deeper: "Study on the neuroendocrinology of love"]