Love is said to be caused by substances released in the brain when you see a certain person. He/she therefore becomes the person you are in love with. I know that the substances are addictive so that you want to see that person as often as possible, but what actually releases those substances for the first time so that you start to love someone?
Answer
Those substances don’t cause love, but they do give her a helping hand. What ‘makes the spark fly’ is still not entirely clear. But when you fall in love, those substances make it a nice feeling when your brain is busy with your loved one – just thinking is enough. That intoxication is so strong that you can safely compare it to an addiction.
Only, an addiction lasts, love doesn’t. Your production of infatuation substances decreases on its own. But meanwhile, you’ve spent so much time with that loved one that you’ve had plenty of opportunity to find reasons other than a chemical reaction to continue the relationship. Or just not, and then it stops.
Answered by
Pieter Van Dooren
science journalist with broad knowledge
Nationalestraat 155 2000 Antwerp
http://www.itg.be/
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