Science proves that love is blind(neuroscience of love)

BBC NEWS ^ | 06/14/04 | N/A

[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.

[counterpunch]

This explains the Democrats' love for Bill Clinton.
It also explains quite a few of my own past relationships.

[Ronly Bonly Jones]

God is Love
Love is Blind
Stevie Wonder is Blind
Therefore....

[E. Pluribus Unum]

They have found that feelings of love lust lead to a suppression of activity in the areas of the brain controlling critical thought.

[ko_kyi]

Already I can see the chain reaction, the chemical precursors that signal the onset of emotion, designed specifically to overwhelm logic, and reason.

[bikepacker67]

They have found that feelings of love lead to a suppression of activity in the areas of the brain controlling critical thought.

Ain't THAT the freakin truth!

[tiamat]

Good article!

thank you for sharing it!

[VadeRetro]

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.

Corollary: Love Hurts.

[joesnuffy]

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

[tiamat]

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.

---

I get all goofy over my daughter.... That kid lights my life up, bigtime. She's away right now on a trip and I am about mindless because of it. I can't wait til she gets back. it AIN'T lust....

[Redbob]

"...feelings of love lead to a suppression of activity in the areas of the brain controlling critical thought."

Suspicions confirmed:
Love makes you stupid.

[Paradox]

This is no secret to most people. This is why, after the relationship has matured, and cooler heads are prevailing (is there a pun there somewhere?), people often see the other in a different light, often times, a FAR different light.

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.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

This just proves the old saying that a man's brain is not located behind his eyeballs.

[slimer]

Does this apply to a$$holes as well?

[lillybet]

thank you Professor Love. dont spoil it for me. am still dreaming,

[lillybet]

thank you Professor Love. dont spoil it for me. am still dreaming,

[.cnI redruM]

Substitute Ray Charles for Stevie Wonder and you'd have a fitting eulogy.

[lillybet]

Thankyou Professor Love, dont spoil it for me am still dreamin

[Doctor Stochastic]

Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind,
And therefore is wing'd Cupid painted blind.

"A Midsummer-Night's Dream"

[lillybet]

Thankyou Professor Love, dont spoil it for me am still dreamin