What chemical is released when you are with someone you love?

The brain seals the deal by releasing oxytocin, often called “the love hormone.” It's a neuropeptide produced in the hypothalamus and secreted by the pituitary gland during times of intimacy, like hugging, breastfeeding and orgasm.

cnn.com - Your brain on love: A chemical high | CNN

What keeps a woman interested in a man?

When a man is honest and trustworthy, he instantly becomes more appealing and desirable to a woman. If he's dependable, truthful, genuine, and...

Last updated May 16, 2021

What are the signs of a female narcissist?

15 Female Narcissistic Traits Being Self-Centered or Self-Absorbed. ... Never Admitting Fault. ... Pettiness & Inability to See the Bigger Picture....

Last updated Mar 24, 2022

Promotion

CNN —

We call it “falling in love,” as if we have no control over how we topple into that dreamy state of emotional bliss. But those sweetly warm feelings we connect to our heart are actually chemicals and hormones flooding an organ higher up – our brain.

It starts with a crush

That first spark of attraction ignites a region buried deep inside the brain called the ventral tegmental area, or VTA. Recognizing a potential reward in the making, the VTA begins producing a chemical called dopamine, often called the “feel-good” neurotransmitter.

Leah Abucayan/CNN

Dopamine also plays a role in movement, motivation, mental focus, psychosis, even the production of breast milk. But it’s best known for its starring role in addiction – and romance. Jumping from neuron to neuron, dopamine travels an ancient avenue called the mesolimbic pathway, priming the brain to pay attention and react to expected rewards from food, drugs, hugs, sex or other equally pleasant actions. This network is so ancient even worms and flies, which evolved about two billion years ago, have a similar reward highway in their primitive systems.

Leah Abucayan/CNN

A hop, skip and a neuron jump away is the nucleus accumbens, a round, flat structure which functions as the stimulus control center for the brain. It revs up production of dopamine, flooding your brain with enhanced feelings of bliss, euphoria and desire. It doesn’t take a matchmaker to see where this is going: Increasing levels of dopamine = euphoria and desire = greater attraction to the object of your affection. You’re “high” on love, just as a drug addict is “high” on cocaine – and you’re going to want more and more.

Dare we say you’re addicted?

During this growing obsession, the brain sends a signal to your adrenal gland, which manufactures adrenaline and norepinephrine, the chemicals that get your body ready to “fight” or decide to take “flight.” Silly lovestruck human. You thought it was your sweetheart that made you tremble, lose your appetite and get sweaty palms, not to mention that pitter-patter of your heart.

Then you lose your judgment

What are secret ways to say I love you?

If you're looking to incorporate some words in your secret tradition, here are some fun options: I'm crazy about you. You are the love of my life....

Last updated Jul 28, 2018

Do men prefer good body or face?

Do guys prefer face? The study found that when asked about a long-term relationship, men allocated a larger amount of their points to facial...

Last updated Aug 17, 2020

Promotion

Have you ever wondered why your new love can do no wrong (at least at first)? Yup, that’s all chemicals too. First, the brain on love deactivates the amygdala, which controls the perception of fear, anger and sadness.

Leah Abucayan/CNN

No wonder we feel safe and secure with our loved one. No red flags here! At the same time, the brain dampens the ability of our mid- and frontal cortex to use logic, criticize or think clearly. We literally suspend our ability to analyze and judge the object of our affection. “Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind, And therefore is winged Cupid painted blind.” That’s William Shakespeare from “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”

Then your brain wants to mate

Why would the brain set us up like this? So that we’ll stay with someone long enough to procreate, of course. Our bodies are evolutionarily hard-wired to save our species.

Leah Abucayan/CNN

Which leads us to the next level of your brain on love: attachment. All these things we’ve been talking about – such as adrenaline and dopamine — are quick highs, designed to get us interested. The brain seals the deal by releasing oxytocin, often called “the love hormone.” It’s a neuropeptide produced in the hypothalamus and secreted by the pituitary gland during times of intimacy, like hugging, breastfeeding and orgasm. Get CNN Health's weekly newsletter Sign up here to get The Results Are In with Dr. Sanjay Gupta every Tuesday from the CNN Health team. Studies show oxytocin strengthens social bonds in mammals, and intimate activities that trigger its release help couples create strong bonds. So hugging, kissing and love-making are all things you can continue to do to keep your brain on love.

cnn.com - Your brain on love: A chemical high | CNN

Why does he hug me around my waist?

If your partner hugs you this way, he wants to make you feel loved. It also suggests he is protective of you when he wraps his arms around your...

Last updated Apr 30, 2018

What age difference is too much?

A relationship age gap bigger than 10 years often comes with its own set of issues. “While there are always exceptions to rules, a good rule to...

Last updated Jul 18, 2019

Promotion

Why do girls like guys with muscles?

Muscles attract attention. Both women and men take greater notice of men who look strong. Researchers have found that, with all else equal, people...

Last updated Apr 23, 2022

Promotion

How do you fix a struggling marriage?

15 Ways to save your broken marriage Identify what made you fall in love. ... Start to listen to each other again. ... Reflect on what has made...

Last updated Sep 5, 2020