love, love, love

   The Science of Falling in Love

A new study conducted by Syracuse University professor Stephanie Ortigue is called, "The Neuroimaging of love."

This new study shows love cannot only give off the same feeling as using cocaine, but also affects intellectual areas of the brain. Researchers also have found that falling in love only takes about one fifth of a second!

Results from Ortigue's team have found that when a person falls in love, twelve areas of the brain work to release euphoria-inducing chemicals such as dopamine, adrenaline, and vasopression.
The feeling of love can also affect mental representation, metaphors, and body image.

The study also shows that different parts of the brain fall for love. Unconditional love, like mother to her son, is sparked by common and different brain areas, including the middle of the brain. Passionate love, on the other hand, is sparked by cognitive brain areas.

Other researchers have found that blood levels of nerve growth factor INCREASE. Those levels were much higher in people who had recently fallen in love. This molecule plays an important role in the phenomenon 'love at first sight'.  Ortigue states, "These results confirm that love has a scientific basis."

The actions we take for the people we love.

The way to tell someone that they belong with you. 

               http://www.syr.edu/news/articles/2010/ortigue-neuroimaging-of-love-10-10.html