Amina Dzebo
Ms.Segall
Chemistry Period: 2
March 1, 2018
Chemistry of Love
Special chemical reactions make humans develop feelings and affection for each other. Dry mouth, goose bumps, blushing and sweaty palms are all responses that are induced chemically. What love really is is in depth and complicated to understand.
A hormone is a special chemical messenger in the body that is created in the endocrine glands that controls and regulates the activity of certain cells or organs. Hormones control most major bodily functions; everything from hunger to reproduction. The body is composed of many different hormones that have various functions. Estrogen is the main sex hormone for women. Cortisol has been known as the “stress hormone” because of the way it assists in the body responding to stress. Hormones are secreted directly into the blood by the glands that produce and store them. Chemicals that interfere with the function of hormones are known as endocrine disruptors. The Endocrine system controls and regulates the complex activities of the body. The Endocrine system regulates the activities of the body by secreting hormones into the bloodstream. Hormones help to regulate the metabolic functions of the body, regulate the rate of chemical reactions in various cells, and to influence the ability of substances to transport themselves through the cell membrane. It only takes a tiny amount of hormones to cause big changes in the body and cells.
When a person becomes physically attracted to someone, many different chemicals and hormones are released. Hormones can be released from any gland in the body. When a person is in love there are many different hormones present such as, Adrenaline, Dopamine and Serotonin. Oxytocin and Vasopressin appear in the last stage of love. Oxytocin is known as the love hormone as well as Vasopressin. Those two have a great effect in the attraction felt towards others. Oxytocin is not just a hormone found in attraction between partners, but also found in the attraction between mothers and their children. The hormones Adrenaline, Dopamine and Serotonin are present in the second stage of love, which is the attraction stage. Adrenaline also serves as the stress response in our bodies. When hands start to sweat, the face becomes flushed and the heart begins to race, Adrenaline tests released.
Serotonin affects how people act when falling in love. The lower level of serotonin found in the body, the better off someone appears. As the body receives higher levels of serotonin, the interest in ones partner starts to lower. Serotonin enhancing medication can potentially blur a woman’s ability to evaluate partners and to sustain an enduring relationship. Serotonin helps to stabilize the mood and balances neurotransmitters. Serotonin can increase a persons dependence on another person. Oxytocin changes the brain signals that are related to social recognition via facial expression. If the oxytocin receptors were to be be blocked, it can cut off the pair bonding response. This can lead to a disinterest in establishing bonds with other people and diminishing the possibilities of being intimate with someone. Those who excite romantic feelings are more likely to cause an increase in the release of oxytocin. Oxytocin has physical and psychological effects, including influencing social behavior and emotion. It can impact emotional and cognitive behaviors.
Dopamine, Norepinephrine, Serotonin, Oxytocin and Vasopressin are all present when a person is in love. Dopamine is produced by the hypothalamus and it is released when people do things that feel good to them. High levels of Dopamine and Norepinephrine are released during attraction. These chemicals make people giddy, energetic and euphoric. Sometimes people are so in love that they can not eat or sleep. Clammy hands and sweating are all signs that a person is in love. The first stage of love is driven by testosterone and estrogen. The next stage is attraction which is when people are so in love they can not think of anything else. The third stage is attachment which refers a longer lasting commitment and is the bond that keeps couples together when they go on to have children. Another important chemical in the long-term commitment stage is Vasopressin. It is an important controller of the kidney and its role in long-term relationship. Dopamine gets activated when something good happens and it works to control our reward and pleasure centers. The high dopamine levels in the brain tells people that being around their partner is synonymous with pleasure. Serotonin also relates to our appetite and mood. During the phase of attraction, many chemicals conspire to make people obsess over their new lovers and it helps to contribute to the feeling of excitedness when the lover is around. The brain during this phase makes the bodies long for the lover and it makes people constantly want to be around them. Oxytocin and Vasopressin are present during the third stage of love. These two hormones make people stick around after the first few months of a relationship.
Oxytocin is secreted into the bloodstream by the posterior pituitary gland. Secretion depends on electrical activity of neurons in the hypothalamus. Serotonin can be found in the body’s gastrointestinal tract. Serotonin that is used inside the brain must be produced within it. Norepinephrine is synthesized from dopamine and released from the adrenal medulla into the blood as a hormone. It is also a neurotransmitter in the central nervous system and sympathetic nervous system where it is released from noradrenergic neurons. Vasopressin is produced by magnocellular neurosecretory neurons in the PVN. Dopamine is produced in several areas of the brain including the substantial nigra and the central segmental area. It is then eventually released by the hypothalamus.
A breakup leaves a physical and emotional scare to the body. Small doses of stress hormones are heroic but distress from a broken hard can cause trouble in the body. Too much cortisol in the brain sends blood to the major muscle groups. The muscles end up tensing up and have no opportunity to expend the energy. When stress hormones run rampant, the immune system struggles, increasing vulnerability to bugs and illnesses. Losing a relationship can throw people into a type of withdrawal.
Oxytocin:
Serotonin:
Dopamine:
Vasopressin:
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