WHY DO WE FALL IN LOVE?

Why do we fall in love?

Let’s get scientific: Narrated by Dr Laura Ashe

The causes and effects of love have long fascinated scientists and romantics

alike.

In fact, in 2015 ‘what is love?’ was Google’s second most searched term

starting ‘what is’.

It’s been found that those under love’s spell experience the same highs and

lows as people with hard drug addictions.

And neuroscientists have discovered that the brains of people in love actually

change.

Einstein famously said: “You can't blame gravity for falling in love.”

So what does science tell us we can blame?

Let’s open up Cupid’s chemistry set to find out.

First off, in the primary lust-driven stages, sex hormones testosterone and

oestrogen get to work.

The hormone testosterone actually lowers in men but it rises in women.

Once the lust dust has settled...attraction kicks in.

This stage of loveliness is powered along by neurotransmitters called

‘monoamines’.

In this mix is a heady combination of Dopamine, also activated by drugs such

as cocaine and nicotine; Adrenalin (AKA Norepinephrine) which causes those

racing hearts and hot flushes; and finally, Serotonin – an ingredient that’s so

strong it’s to blame for craziest things we do when we’re in love.

The attraction stage can cause any number of strange effects on the lovestruck.

It’s lucky that most people soon move into the final stage...attachment. This is

what keeps relationships strong and long lasting and relies mainly on the

hormones Oxytocin – sometimes called the “love hormone”— and

Vasopressin, recently discovered to play an important role in long-term love.

So it seems that age-old wisdom and modern science are both correct: finding

love and keeping it is indeed all about getting the chemistry right.