When we fall in love, what happens to our hearts and brains?
Love has three stages: lust, attraction, and attachment. Lust is the hormone-driven stage, where we feel an overwhelming attraction to a partner and focus all our attention on them.
Sexuality experts at Loyola University Health System report that meeting someone you're interested in is like being struck by Cupid's arrow, making you breathless and your heart flutter.
Dr. Pat Mumby, a professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience at Loyola University, said: "Falling in love causes our bodies to release large amounts of feel-good chemicals that trigger specific physical reactions, and this internal love potion makes our cheeks flush, our palms sweat, and our hearts beat faster."
MRI scans show that love lights up the brain's pleasure centers. When we fall in love, blood flow to this area increases, which is why we blush and feel warm all over.
At the same time, when two people fall in love, the levels of substances including dopamine, adrenaline, and norepinephrine increase. Dopamine produces euphoria, while adrenaline and norepinephrine cause an increased heart rate, leading to restlessness and subjectivity.
Endorphins and the hormones vasopressin and oxytocin also flood the body at this time, creating an overall sense of well-being and security that helps maintain lasting relationships.
Now, think back to when you first met your partner. Did you feel restless and overwhelmed? Although it was awkward, you still fondly recall that scene, deeply etched in your mind.
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