Since Day1, many friends around me have been saying that I'm so MADLY in love with HIM. Even HE himself also thinks so. (-.-)" Didn't give it much of a thought until I chanced upon this special report "Love that Lasts" on Saturday Section of The Straits Times (9 Feb 2008). Seemingly, Helen Fisher, a professor from New York's Rutgers University has discovered that LOVE stimulates the center of the brain where abundance of receptors of a neurotransmitter, call dopamine, can be found.
Once stimulated, dopamine are capable of generating creating the feeling of infatuation and craving which is similar to a "mental illness” and hence the term "MADLY in love".
However, these symptoms are normally experienced in the infancy stage of a relationship. A period which we normally termed it as "honeymoon period". After which, there might be two possible scenarios:
1) Relationship getting bland and break up occurs
2) More stable relationship or bonding is established
The above 2 extreme scenarios with only a fine line of difference. According to the article, the determining factor is the presence of a hormone call oxytoxin. This hormone is responsible for bonding, encourage monogamy in animals. If a couple is able to promote and sustain the production of oxytoxin after the effect of dopamine wears off, a long term companionate bonding can be established.
But fret not, scientists have also discovered that by doing new things together will also stimulate dopamine and creating back the feeling of initial attraction and love again. So couples out there, why not try participating in activities together to revive back the days of the first attraction or it can also strengthen the bonding which both have established.
So now you see, LOVE is not such a simple thing after all...
Labels: dopamine, helen fisher, livin, love, oxytoxin, relationship, together, valentine, valentine's day
12:42 PM
