The Chemistry of Love

 

To love or being loved is a great feeling. I am not going to tell you how you do that, but I will give you an overview of the chemistry involved while you are in love. Our emotions and behaviors are controlled, influenced, and measured by certain chemicals commonly known as hormones. Some of the most important chemicals involved in the feeling of love are dopamine, oxytocin, vasopressin, serotonin, phenylethylamine, adrenaline, norepinephrine, testosterone, and estrogen.

Phenylethylamine

Phenylethylamine is biosynthesized in the brain and is regarded as a stimulant and psychoactive compound. It helps in the release of dopamine and norepinephrine. It is known to increase the blood flow rate and heartbeat, a sign of attraction.

Dopamine

Dopamine is a related compound to phenylethylamine which acts as a neurotransmitter in brain. It gives feeling of pleasure when you are around your loved one. It increases focus and motivation and makes you addicted. Dopamine activity increases even by just seeing a picture of your loved one, and you can surely feel it.

Serotonin

Serotonin is another neurotransmitter which makes you obsessed for your lover and optimistic besides having anti-depressant properties.

Oxytocin

Oxytocin (Photo credit: theatlantic.com)

Oxytocin is the most important hormone involved in affecting our emotions towards others and that is why it has been regarded as the “love hormone”. It is of great importance in long term relationships, affection for another person, trust, and attachment. It is released in females after giving birth to a baby and thus initiates that motherly attraction between the mother and her baby which lasts till death.

Vasopressin

Vasopressin (Photo Credit: mpbio.com)

Vasopressin has similar effects to oxytocin, but it is believed to play its role in males while oxytocin in females, although both are released in both sexes.

Adrenaline

Adrenaline may make you nervous or excited. Its level in the body increases when you are new in love, thus making your heart race faster, gives you that nervous feeling of falling in love, making you sweat and your mouth dried out. The concentration of another stress hormone, cortisol is also increased during this situation.

Testosterone and Estrogen

Steroidal compounds, testosterone and estrogen are involved in attraction between two individuals. These are found in both sexes but testosterone is more important in males while estrogen in female. They are very important for regulation of sexual characteristics in human beings.