There is no single answer to the question “what is love?” The emotion is a complex one and it is different for everyone. Love can take many forms – from romantic love to familial love and friendship love. Even platonic love can be quite a powerful force. It can make you act in ways that would otherwise be uncharacteristic for you or inspire you to change your whole way of living. Whether it is for your significant other, best friend or pet, the feeling of love can be one of the most incredible things that can happen to you.
The concept of love has inspired countless philosophers, poets and songwriters. But scientists are also trying to figure out what exactly it is and how it works in the brain. Scientists are finding that the emotions and behaviors associated with love come from multiple systems in the body and brain. In fact, they are finding that love is actually a cluster of emotions and behaviors that involve the body, mind and heart.
In the past, people believed that love arose from the heart and was a result of chemical changes in the blood. However, research has shown that these chemicals are created in the brain, not in the heart, and are a result of multiple neural pathways being activated in the brain. For example, when people are in the throes of romantic love, there is a lot of activity in the reward centers of the brain. In addition, there is a spike in the release of norepinephrine and a decrease in serotonin. These chemicals are known to produce feelings of excitement and desire.
While the euphoria of being in love is amazing, it can also be very unstable. It is not uncommon to have days or even weeks when you aren’t feeling all mushy-gushy in love. During these times, it is important to remember that this is normal and to stay strong. If you stick with it, the love will come back.
Eventually, the giddy love of early relationships turns into a more long-term commitment. This is when the arousal and excitement of love begins to diminish and two other hormones begin to take center stage: oxytocin and vasopressin. These two hormones have been linked to trust and closeness in relationships.
As a whole, this is what most people think of when they talk about love: a sense of trust and connection. The trust that is formed in a relationship can be very powerful and it is the basis of most marriages, family bonds and friendships. The ability to trust another person can be the most profound experience of love. It can bring out the best in you and it can also cause you to do crazy things if you feel that you are being hurt.
It is easy to see why the idea of “love” is so difficult to define and understand. It is a complex feeling that can change and evolve in different ways, but it is always present in some form in our lives.