Thursday, September 3, 2009

The Chemistry of Love | Venice blog

The Chemistry of Love: Why do We Fall in Love?

September 03, 2009 By: venice-apartments Category: Venice

That love is one of the most wonderful feelings in the world we don’t have any doubt. We have all fallen in love at some time and we know symptoms well: butterflies in the stomach, poor appetite, insomnia, rapid pulse, general happiness… But do we know why we fall in love? What happens in our brain when Cupid launches his arrows our way?

Probably the romantic among us feel a bit disappointed when they discover that falling in love is just pure biochemistry, a question of hormones! When we fall in love a complex chain of chemical reactions activates the feelings and behaviours of love. This way, thousands of neurons send electrical impulses to the brain. Then a series of hormones are segregated that, in turn, are responsible for the continued operation of passion, love, fidelity, and so on.

To start, the person in love segregates feniltelitamine, a compound of the amphetamine family that provokes passion, generates euphoria and certain “blindness” (for this person his/her mate is simply perfect) and it comes before the hormone dopamine.

Other hormones such as norepinephrine and serotonin are responsible for dilating the pupils and accelerating our heart-rate.

Dopamine is the neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and reward. It appears in the initial phase of relations and it is responsible for increasing sexual desire. Among other things, it produces happiness and it helps to enjoy more and better orgasms. It is also known as the passion hormone.

Unfortunately the body cannot assume huge amounts of dopamine and after some months our body stops producing it and begins to produce oxytocin, also known as the love hormone. Although it is a hormone involved in conception, it is also responsible for couples being monogamous. It is released during orgasm and it helps to strengthen ties between the couple. It has been demonstrated that the monogamous animal species segregate more oxytocin as some penguins do, which have only one life partner. Oxytocin is produced in great quantities during pregnancy and birth and helps with the contractions. It is also what helps the mother and child bond together when the baby is born.

Another curious fact is that all these chemical reactions are addictive, and like drugs, when you stop producing them withdrawal symptoms can start to appear. Because of that the lack of love can provoke frustration and deep sadness.

Either way, the social environment and education also play an important role in love. Do you feel like falling in love? What better place to do that in the city of lovers! Rent Apartments in Venice and discover what it feels when Cupid knocks on your door.

Posted via web from barcedona's posterous

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