Songwriters and novelists have long-claimed that love is a drug. Scientists have gone a step further to prove this. They conducted tests on the romantic relationships of prairie voles. Different pairs of the mouse-like animals were tested for levels of dopamine. This plays a role in our seeking pleasure and addictive things. The researchers said the voles released a lot of dopamine when they were with their "established partner". Dr Zoe Donaldson said parts of the voles' brains lit up "like a glow stick" when they were reunited with their mates.
The study helps to explain more about how complex human relationships are. It says dopamine plays a key part when falling in love, and in the sadness when breaking up with a partner. Dr Donaldson said: "Our entire social world is basically defined by different degrees of selective desire to interact with different people, whether it's your romantic partner or your close friends." She added: "Certain people leave a unique chemical imprint on our brain that drives us to maintain these bonds over time." Research also suggests that women get over breakups faster than men.
Try the same news story at these levels:
Dopamine and Love - Level 4 or Dopamine and Love - Level 6
Sources- https://www.theguardian.com/science/2024/jan/12/biological-changes-in-brain-may-help-in-getting-over-an-ex-study-finds
- https://nypost.com/2024/01/12/lifestyle/yes-you-will-get-over-being-dumped-were-wired-to-bounce-back/
- https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-01-neuroscientists-chemical-imprint-desire.html
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