Posted on 06/15/2004 5:54:41 AM PDT by TigerLikesRooster
Science proves that love is blind
Scientists have shown that there is a degree of truth in the old adage that love is blind. They have found that feelings of love lead to a suppression of activity in the areas of the brain controlling critical thought.
It seems that once we get close to a person, the brain decides the need to assess their character and personality is reduced.
The study, by University College London, is published in NeuroImage.
The researchers found that both romantic love and maternal love produce the same effect on the brain.
They suppress neural activity associated with critical social assessment of other people and negative emotions.
The UCL team scanned the brains of 20 young mothers while they viewed pictures of their own children, children they were acquainted with, and adult friends.
The team found that the patterns of brain activity were very similar to those identified in an earlier study looking at the effects of romantic love.
Euphoria
Both studies recorded increased activity in parts of the brain's "reward system".
When these areas are stimulated - as they can be by food and drink, or even monetary gain - they produce feelings of euphoria.
But perhaps more surprisingly, both studies also showed reduced levels of activity in the systems necessary for making negative judgements.
Similar findings have been found in animal studies.
Lead researcher Dr Andreas Bartels said it was crucial that both romantic and maternal love were viewed by the brain in a highly positive way - because both were crucial to the perpetuation of the species.
He said: "Our research enables us to conclude that human attachment employs a push-pull mechanism that overcomes social distance by deactivating networks used for critical social assessment and negative emotions, while it bonds individuals through the involvement of the reward circuitry explaining the power of love to motivate and exhilarate."
The research did highlight one difference in the brain's response to romantic and maternal love.
Only romantic love triggered heightened activity in the hypothalamus - which controls feelings of arousal.
This explains the Democrats' love for Bill Clinton.
It also explains quite a few of my own past relationships.
God is Love
Love is Blind
Stevie Wonder is Blind
Therefore....
Already I can see the chain reaction, the chemical precursors that signal the onset of emotion, designed specifically to overwhelm logic, and reason.
Ain't THAT the freakin truth!
Good article!
thank you for sharing it!
Corollary: Love Hurts.
You love her
But she loves him
And he loves somebody else
You just can't win
And so it goes
Till the day you die
This thing they call love
It's gonna make you cry
I've had the blues
The reds and the pinks
One thing for sure
(Love stinks)
Love stinks yeah yeah
(Love stinks)
Love stinks yeah yeah
(Love stinks)
Love stinks yeah yeah
(Love stinks)
Love stinks yeah yeah
Two by two and side by side
Love's gonna find you yes it is
You just can't hide
You'll hear it call
Your heart will fall
Then love will fly
It's gonna soar
I don't care for any casanova thing
All I can say is
Love stinks
(Love stinks)
Love stinks yeah yeah
(Love stinks)
Love stinks yeah yeah
(Love stinks)
Love stinks yeah yeah
(Love stinks)
Love stinks yeah yeah
I've been through diamonds
I've been through minks
I've been through it all
Love stinks
(Love stinks)
Love stinks yeah yeah
(Love stinks)
Love stinks yeah yeah
(Love stinks)
Love stinks yeah yeah
(Love stinks)
Love stinks yeah yeah
J. Geils Band
E. Pluribus Unum wrote:
They have found that feelings of love lust lead to a suppression of activity in the areas of the brain controlling critical thought.
Suspicions confirmed:
Love makes you stupid.
I have read that this can take up to 3 years, but at some point, you are going to fall out of that initial "love" that you feel, rationality is going to take hold, and that person had better be worth something in the REAL world, or your relationship is doomed. Oh yeah, I would never advise anyone to have kids within this period.
This just proves the old saying that a man's brain is not located behind his eyeballs.
Does this apply to a$$holes as well?
thank you Professor Love. dont spoil it for me. am still dreaming,
thank you Professor Love. dont spoil it for me. am still dreaming,
Substitute Ray Charles for Stevie Wonder and you'd have a fitting eulogy.
Thankyou Professor Love, dont spoil it for me am still dreamin
"A Midsummer-Night's Dream"
Thankyou Professor Love, dont spoil it for me am still dreamin
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