Love has always been a central theme for humanity, serving as a source of inspiration for poetry, music, painting and art in all its forms. In recent years, thanks to the development of modern imaging techniques that allow us to directly observe what is happening inside our heads, love has also become a topic of interest to science.
The most potently activated brain area in love brains appears to be, with the consensus of all neuroimaging studies published to date, the nucleus ‘accumbens’ . This structure constitutes, in association with others, what is called the brain’s reward system , the activation of which results in a deep sense of pleasure and euphoria. The stimuli capable of triggering this emotion are very diverse, including sex, exposure to new, unfamiliar situations, people or environments , and a long etcetera. The reward system is responsible for reinforcing the association between a stimulus capable of generating pleasure and the euphoric state to which it leads, promoting behaviors of seeking and “consuming” rewarding stimuli.
An addictive feeling
Very often, couples report feeling closer after taking a trip together. This sensation is not a fantasy but seems to have a real neurochemical foundation . It is believed that, by permanently facing the novelty, the activation of this system reinforces the association between the sensation of pleasure and the presence of the other person, which contributes to consolidate emotional ties. All addictive drugs are characterized by stimulating this system, as love does. Although it is not formally considered yet, love is a powerfully addictive feeling . Now, if the diagnostic criteria for addiction are analyzed, a startling behavior pattern is discovered similar to that of falling in love.
Thus, the addict shows exaggerated and irrepressible eagerness to get the drug ; spends a lot of time and effort in activities related to obtaining the substance, such as traveling long distances or performing, without disgust, the formidable movements required for intercourse, even having exercised hard in other tasks throughout the day; and puts the consumption of the substance before their social, work or recreational activities, neglecting them. The resemblance is obvious.
Still, the most frustrating aspect of addiction is its persistence . Exposure to reminders of drug use, such as locations associated with previous use, can cause a relapse, even decades after overcoming the addiction. In the case of love, we all know that a song, a photograph or a way back home can have the same effect, rekindling the extinct flame of love and burning us inside.
Ismael Millán works in the Molecular Physiology of the Synapse Research Group of the Institute of Biomedicine of Seville – University of Seville. Article written in collaboration with the UCC + i of the University of Seville.
