English Blog-This Could Be Fun!!

The Brain In Love, Benedict Carey

#1 According to Carey's essay, scientists discovered the effect of love on the brain is like being on drugs. "The (MRI) pictures showed that the experience of romantic attraction activated those pockets of the brain with a high concentration of receptors for dopamine, the chemical messenger closely tied to states of euphoria, craving, and addiction. Biologists have linked high levels of dopamine and a related agent, norepinephrine, to heightened attention and short-term memory, hyperactivity, sleeplessness, and goal-oriented behavior. When they’re first captivated, Fisher argues, couples often show signs of surging dopamine: increased energy, less need for sleep or food, focused attention, and exquisite delight in smallest details of this novel relationship". I have taken two classes at Wayne State that speaks identically of what this story is saying. Drugs and Behavior in Society and Human Sexuality were talking about how the brain works when you are introduced to another who sparks that interest or how it responds to certain chemicals. They really do go hand in hand. The same areas of the brain were stimulated with the person that you are in love with like you had just did a line of coke or shot up. The news does not really surprise me but it sort of takes all of that magical romance out of what you are feeling. Knowing that it is just chemicals in your brain that are making you feel certain powerful and emotional responses takes the fun out of dating or the relationship itself. I could go snort some cocaine and feel the same (I would never want to experiment in such a way) That thought creped me out me a bit.

posted by -*K*- @ 10:42 AM