It
might sound unfair to clinically dissect love
and term it a function of a few naughty genes
or chemicals with a few ‘college-going’ molecules
or proteins that have mastered the art of
sending a few lovelorn SMS to the brain. Probably
Dr Spock of Star Treck would have loved to
knit his brows and wonder why people go crazy
over love.
Studies have
shown that falling in love physically is very
similar to taking drugs. It has an effect
on the heart, shows typical signs of withdrawal
symptoms and a few may get addicted too! That
later.
Being attracted
to someone is actually the result of a series
of chemicals and hormones at work. The first spark comes from the brain that
releases a neuro-transmitter chemical called
dopamine. This results in a chain reaction
leading to the heart pounding three times
faster than normal. The extra gush of blood
finds its way to the cheeks and sexual organs.
This sudden diversion of blood makes your
stomach feel a bit empty and this causes the
feeling of butterflies in the stomach. Since
the blood goes to specified areas, the hands
and legs get a diminished supply of blood
resulting in the palms getting cold and a
slight shiver setting in. This is why many
in love look a bit disoriented, nervous and
they wear a new colour on their face.
Did I hear
you say ‘how unromantic’? Well there is more.
How does the
body benefit while in love? When in love,
the body releases special chemicals that make
you feel good, content and happy. This can
spur creativity and that probably explains
why most poets, artists, writers and people
with extraordinary talents are also good at
love.
Love can result
in sexual activity and this can affect the
entire body – from head to toe. Doctors believe
that love-making is a good aerobic exercise
that improves the circulation and can do wonders
to the heart. Studies have shown that sexually
active people tend to suffer from fewer heart
attacks may be due to their better fitness.
But you need to attain the right age to do
this so that it can benefit the body.
It can also
benefit in weight reduction. Intercourse can
burn around 200 calories. And all this happens
in just a few minutes work compared to a 15-minute
workout on a treadmill at a gym.
In love-making
the body releases endorphins, which can mitigate
chronic pain of back ache, arthritis and migraines.
Since brain chemicals are involved, sexually
active people are less vulnerable to depression
and suicides. Love-making is also good to
calm anxieties, ease fear and can break down
inhibitions – all this because of special
hormones released by the brain and body.
Some research
work has shown that frequent love-making can
boost levels of key immune cells that can
help fight colds and other infections.
A small study
has shown that oxytocin and DHEA hormone released
during love-making may prevent breast cancer
cells from developing into tumors. Frequent
love-making has also been linked to longer
life – may be due to the beneficial effects
on the heart and immune system.
But if love
is just a chemical reaction, why is it that
we do not fall head over heals over everyone.
Why is that we get attracted to some and not
to all? Well, again a bouquet of chemical
is at work. Researchers say that the body
releases special chemicals that the nose does
not catch, but the brain does. And the brain
selects the odour of somebody who has a very
different immune system. That is why you seldom
fall in love with a close relative.
For survival,
mankind needs as diverse a gene pool as possible.
Otherwise one disease will wipe out the entire
humanity.
But if you
thought that love involves a huge part of
the brain, you are mistaken. In 2000, Andreas
and Semir Zeki of University College, London,
located the areas of the brain activated by
romantic love. They took students who said
they were madly in love, put them into a brain
scanner, and looked at their patterns of brain
activity. The results were rather surprising
for such a wonderful emotion called love.
The research showed that only a relatively
small area of the human brain is active when
a person is involved in deep love. But more
parts of the brain are active and involved
when the motion switches to ordinary friendship.
“It is fascinating to reflect”, the pair conclude,
“that the face that launched a thousand ships
should have done so thorough such a limited
expanse of cortex.” (As quoted in The Economist).
The second
surprise was that the brain areas active in
love are different from the areas activated
in other emotional states, such as fear and
anger. Parts of the brain that are love-bitten
include the one responsible for gut feelings,
and the ones which generate the euphoria induced
by drugs such as cocaine. So the brains of
people deeply in love do not look like those
of people experiencing strong emotions, but
instead like those of people snoring coke.
Love, in other words, uses the neural mechanisms
and pathways that are activated during the
process of addiction. “We are literally addicted
to love,” Dr Young observes.
When a person
is in love, the special chemicals and hormones
give the body an extra-ordinary feel-good
envelope – an effect that is very similar
to what cocaine or the drug Ecstasy does to
the body and mind. Addiction experts say that
attraction and lust are very similar to drugs
– it leaves you wanting more. However, the
‘high’ is only temporary – just like in cocaine.
Brain scans
have also revealed that the different flavours
of love come different spots in the brain.
Researchers say that love primarily comes
in three distinct flavours: lust, romantic
love and long-term attachment. In many cases
there can be an overlap, but in essence these
are separate phenomena.
Studies have
proved that a dip in the chemicals and hormones
involved in love result in a decrease in sexual
activity. That is why people on drugs for
certain ailments find themselves less active
sexually because their chemical pool gets
altered. Age will also do the same thing.
But love is
much more than just genes, chemicals and hormones.
So forget all this and just celebrate the
different hues of love on Valentine’s Day.
You can always fool the body’s chemicals and
as someone said: love is in the mind and heart.
Life, they say, is like a game of tennis.
You need to first serve and it all begins
with LOVE ALL.
The New Indian
Express, Health Supplement, 14th Feb 2006
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