GET TO KNOW THE SCIENCE BEHIND FALLING IN LOVE

Undoubtedly, the human race craves for love. We desire to love and to have our love reciprocated. Majority of us might have fallen in love through the course of life. I have pondered and wondered if this strong emotion called LOVE also exist in the animal kingdom. Do certain mammals apart from man fall in love? That sounds really interesting.

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Perhaps, it is widely believed that animals only form an attraction for the sole purpose of procreation. Guess What???..
That is not always the case. Some animals can indeed fall head over heels in love.
The prairie vole is one of such animals. They exhibit human like social behavior like falling in love. The prairie vole upon having the love trait became a very good test species for further scientific research on the chemistry of love.

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A Couple of Prairie Vole

THE CHEMISTRY BEHIND LOVE

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After series of studies and research with the prairie vole and on human, scientist discovered certain neurotransmitters and hormones responsible for the feeling of love. The hormones like adrenaline, dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin and vasopressin all contribute to the reward feeling of falling in love. These hormones and how they function in the brain lead to the categorizing of falling in love into three stages namely; lust, attraction and attachment.

1. LUST

This is the initial chemistry of getting involved with someone interesting you just met. In this stage, new partners get sexually attracted to each other and they crave for sexual satisfaction which is due to the release of testosterone in males and estrogen in females. Lovers in this early stage have their objective to have sex rather than forming an emotional connection thus enhancing promiscuity.

2. ATTRACTION

This is the stage where the individuals feel excited and constantly think about their partners. The hormone dopamine is a chemical messenger that produces the feeling of pleasure within the body when released. Other hormones like adrenaline and serotonin enhance the feel good of love in both partners.

3. ATTACHMENT

This is the long term bonding stage where the partners fall in love wholeheartedly. Bonding between partners occurs due to the release of powerful hormones especially during orgasm. These hormones are oxytocin and vasopressin. Activities such as hugging, kissing, cuddling and sex really boost oxytocin levels in both partners.

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One main reason why prairie voles exhibited monogamous bond was due to the high levels of oxytocin in their blood. When the oxytocin levels in prairie voles were reduced by certain inhibitors, they stopped relating with their pairs and went separate ways.

Quite interesting to know how our body works when we are in love. Being it lust, attraction or attachment, there are hormones responsible for ''the feel good kind of thing''. Regardless, we choose who we want to be with and who we want to love. Our minds are powerful enough to aid us in either lessening our love for someone, stabilizing it or simply growing it.

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Love is a powerful emotion that once experienced with the right soul mate and at the right time will overwhelm you. Do make the decision to fall in love with that person you cherish and ignite the release of the love hormones to sustain that chemistry.
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