(Press-News.org) A new meta-analysis study, "The Neuroimaging of Love," conducted by Syracuse University Professor Stephanie Ortigue, reveals that falling in love can elicit not only the same euphoric feeling as using cocaine, but also affects intellectual areas of the brain. Researchers also found falling in love only takes about a fifth of a second.
Ortigue is an assistant professor of psychology and an adjunct assistant professor of neurology, both in The College of Arts and Sciences at Syracuse University.
Results from Ortigue's team revealed when a person falls in love, 12 areas of the brain work in tandem to release euphoria-inducing chemicals such as dopamine, oxytocin, adrenaline and vasopression. The love feeling also affects sophisticated cognitive functions, such as mental representation, metaphors and body image.
The findings beg the question, "Does the heart fall in love, or the brain?"
"That's a tricky question always," says Ortigue. "I would say the brain, but the heart is also related because the complex concept of love is formed by both bottom-up and top-down processes from the brain to the heart and vice versa. For instance, activation in some parts of the brain can generate stimulations to the heart, butterflies in the stomach. Some symptoms we sometimes feel as a manifestation of the heart may sometimes be coming from the brain."
Other researchers also found blood levels of nerve growth factor, or NGF, also increased. Those levels were significantly higher in couples who had just fallen in love. This molecule involved plays an important role in the social chemistry of humans, or the phenomenon 'love at first sight.' "These results confirm love has a scientific basis," says Ortigue.
The findings have major implications for neuroscience and mental health research because when love doesn't work out, it can be a significant cause of emotional stress and depression. "It's another probe into the brain and into the mind of a patient," says Ortigue. "By understanding why they fall in love and why they are so heartbroken, they can use new therapies." By identifying the parts of the brain stimulated by love, doctors and therapists can better understand the pains of love-sick patients.
The study also shows different parts of the brain fall for love. For example, unconditional love, such as that between a mother and a child, is sparked by the common and different brain areas, including the middle of the brain. Passionate love is sparked by the reward part of the brain, and also associative cognitive brain areas that have higher-order cognitive functions, such as body image.
Ortigue and her team worked with a team from West Virginia University and a university hospital in Switzerland. The results of the study are published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine. Ortigue's research is also featured in the current issue of Discover, and media outlets in the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Mexico and Belgium.
INFORMATION:
Ortigue worked on the love study with colleagues Francesco Bianchi-Demicheli (Geneva University Psychiatric Center, Switzerland), James Lewis (West Virginia University), Nisa Patel (graduate student in SU's College of Arts and Sciences) and Chris Frum (West Virginia University). Ortigue's follow-up study about the speed of love in the human brain is expected to be released soon.
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Typhoon Megi has run into winds that are weakening the storm, but it is forecast to make landfall in southeastern China late at night (EDT) on Oct. 22 (11 a.m. local time Hong Kong, Oct. 23) as a Category One Typhoon. NASA satellites have been monitoring the storm's rainfall, changing cloud cover, and changing eye as it weakens.
The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite traveled directly above Megi on October 21 at 1401 UTC (10:01 a.m. EDT) when wind speeds were estimated to be about 100 knots (~115 mph). Megi caused at least 27 deaths in the Philippines ...
Tropical Storm 04B grew quickly into powerful Cyclone Giri and was making landfall in Burma today as a powerful Category Four Cyclone on the Saffir-Simpson scale. NASA's TRMM satellite noticed that the storm contained some heavy rainfall in addition to the powerful winds.
Giri is the second tropical cyclone of 2010 to form in the Bay of Bengal and was seen by the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite. Cyclone Giri was seen clearly by the TRMM satellite twice on Oct. 21. The first good view was at 1534 UTC (11:34 a.m. EDT) when TRMM data showed a very well ...
The GOES-13 satellite is watching Tropical Storm Richard work its way through the western Caribbean, and residents of eastern Honduras, Guatemala, Belize and Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula are bracing for its impacts as it is forecast to strengthen to hurricane status this weekend. Richard is going to be a big rainmaker for those countries.
The Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite called GOES-13 captured a visible image of Tropical Storm Richard at 1732 UTC (1:32 p.m. EDT) on Oct. 22. GOES satellites are managed by NOAA. NASA's GOES Project at NASA's Goddard ...
2010-10-22 -- Global Intelligence Alliance (GIA), a global strategic market intelligence and advisory group, has announced an Emerging Markets Monitoring Service bundle that specializes in providing local intelligence on Brazil, Russia, India and China, as well as other international growth markets such as Chile, Mexico, The United Arab Emirates, Vietnam and more.
Through its 13 local offices and native-speaking consultants in 100 markets, GIA's Emerging Markets Monitoring Service will assist clients with:
• Market entry intelligence; supporting planning to set ...
Recognizing the myriad environmental problems facing humanity today, Hotelwithheart.com sealed a partnership with WWF-Philippines last January. The Spero-owned hotel booking site hopes to improve lives by helping WWF instruct communities to adapt to climate change, secure food and water sources, conserve local ecosystems, reduce the ecological impacts of new communities and corporations and promote renewable sources of clean energy.
The donation came from Hotelwithheart.com's commission from hotels, at no extra cost to guests. It was made possible by travellers who booked ...
October 20, 2010 - Colasoft, an innovative provider of all-in-one network analyzer software, today announces the release of Capsa Network Analyzer 7.3.1. A brand-new analysis profile-Security Analysis Profile is added as well as more powerful Reporting Capabilities to enhance user experience.
The newly-designed Security Analysis Profile makes it more convenient and easier for users to find out potential security events with six new customer-requested Views. With Capsa 7.3.1, users can not only choose to open and close specific View, but also set up the sequences of ...
DJ Mixer Professional is a powerful Virtual DJ software for Mac and Windows which integrates seamlessly with the iTunes library on a Mac or PC and makes it easy to mix your favorite music and video. Perform live, create and record mixes at home, or let DJ Mixer Professional mix any playlist automatically with seamless, professional transitions. It providing everything you need to create live mixes.
New version 2.0.3 support for Karaoke CDG files (mp3 + cdg files), support FLAC (lossless audio format), support Vestax VCI-100 and additional previewing/monitoring audio ...
The best of the best in San Diego's building industry were showcased and awarded for outstanding achievements, along with awards for local projects, interior design and architecture at the Building Industry Association (BIA) 2010 Icon Awards. Among those honored was Rachel Collins, director of sales for Pardee Homes. Collins was named Sales and Marketing Professional of the Year at the first-ever Icon Awards.
"The Icon Award is a well-deserved honor for Rachel, who has led our San Diego sales department for more than 17 years and oversees a team of 11 sales representatives ...
Computer gaming is a growing market that has been left behind in the home theater digital revolution. With massive multiplayer online games or MMO's released with more frequency and with better graphics, many gamers are seeking to upgrade from their desktop or laptop monitors to their HDTVs. Atlona Technologies, solutions based manufacturer of Audio Video accessories, has continued to answer the calls of those in need by creating products that will allow users an affordable means of connecting their computers to their HDTV without spending a fortune on new video cards or ...
Reform School Dropouts are currently touring the Hampton Roads area of Virginia and will soon
be writing new songs and recording their first CD this winter which will released next year on
Bluewater Records.
Reform School Dropouts are new to the music scene in Virginia. They are currently an 80's and
90's cover band, as they continue to get their name out to the masses. RSD original music will be coming at you in 2011.
RSD recently performed at the Suffolk Peanut Festival, Oceanview Arts Festival and The
NorVa. They will be performing Oct 24 11am to 12pm at Driver ...
