Don’t shake your head in disbelief! It’s true - you can even find science in a movie where the plot revolves solely around Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant’s kiss. It’s called the science of love.
Take Notting Hill, for example: Hugh Grant spills orange juice all over Julia Roberts, then takes her back to his apartment to clean up the mess. This is their first contact. We see him turn into a blundering idiot at the mere sight of her. Why? Cupid loads three arrows...
Adrenaline: Falling in love activates a stress response in the body - triggering an increased adrenaline and cortisol supply to the blood stream. This causes the charming effect of sweating, heart palpitations and a dry mouth.
Dopamine: This chemical gives a high similar to an addictive drug, creating a powerful link in the brain between pleasure and the object of our affection. We become ‘addicted’ to our love interest.
Serotonin: The chemical responsible for obsession - checking your phone, e-mail or Facebook constantly - hoping he/she has made contact. Levels of serotonin in a love struck individual coincide with those of a patient diagnosed with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Eek!
- More info on love
- Listen to this: Anthropologist Helen Fisher takes on a tricky topic – love - and explains its evolution, its biochemical foundations and its social importance…
- Science proves that love is blind
- Happily ever after: What if you could tell whether a man is husband material just by peering at his genes?
- True or false: Do penguins mate for life?
