The chemistry of falling in love
Dec 13, 2006
Grain of science<br><br>When the sight of someone sets your heart racing, hands sweating, butterflies in your stomach and goose pimples, you could be in love. You do not eat but do not feel hungry – you are on top of the world. What you do not know is that falling in love is a series of chemical
Grain of science
When the sight of someone sets your heart racing, hands sweating, butterflies in your stomach and goose pimples, you could be in love. You do not eat but do not feel hungry – you are on top of the world. What you do not know is that falling in love is a series of chemical reactions in the brain which cause mental and physical reactions.
There are an estimated 100 billion neurones that make up the brain’s communication network. Candace Pert, the author of Molecules of Emotion, 1999, discovered that a string of amino acids float around the body and attach themselves to welcoming receptors. So far 60 different neuropeptides have been discovered and they trigger emotional reactions in the body when they attach themselves to the receivers.
The main chemical released to give us the elated physical feelings of being in love is phenylethylamine, which is related to amphetamines and is found in chocolate. This is one of the chemicals that sends your heart racing and pupils dilating. Adrenaline speeds up your heart making you alert and feeling great. Endorphins build your immune system and cure your cold.
Actually, when two people kiss, their bodies make a rapid chemical analysis of each other’s saliva to discover whether they are genetically compatible. But the woman’s brains do more. It makes a chemical analysis to determine the state of the man’s immune system.
When the sight of someone sets your heart racing, hands sweating, butterflies in your stomach and goose pimples, you could be in love. You do not eat but do not feel hungry – you are on top of the world. What you do not know is that falling in love is a series of chemical reactions in the brain which cause mental and physical reactions.
There are an estimated 100 billion neurones that make up the brain’s communication network. Candace Pert, the author of Molecules of Emotion, 1999, discovered that a string of amino acids float around the body and attach themselves to welcoming receptors. So far 60 different neuropeptides have been discovered and they trigger emotional reactions in the body when they attach themselves to the receivers.
The main chemical released to give us the elated physical feelings of being in love is phenylethylamine, which is related to amphetamines and is found in chocolate. This is one of the chemicals that sends your heart racing and pupils dilating. Adrenaline speeds up your heart making you alert and feeling great. Endorphins build your immune system and cure your cold.
Actually, when two people kiss, their bodies make a rapid chemical analysis of each other’s saliva to discover whether they are genetically compatible. But the woman’s brains do more. It makes a chemical analysis to determine the state of the man’s immune system.