Love is a complex emotion that can be broken down into three categories: lust, attraction, and attachment. Each category is identified by a set of hormones released from the brain. Lust releases testosterone and estrogen, while the second stage, attraction, releases dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine – the hormones that give us the warm and fuzzy feelings. In the final stage, attachment, the brain releases oxytocin and vasopressin.
The initial happy feelings of being in love are stimulated by three chemicals in the brain: noradrenaline, dopamine, and phenylethylamine. Noradrenaline stimulates adrenaline production, causing that racing heart and sweaty palms. Dopamine is the feel-good chemical, while phenylethylamine is released when were near our crush, giving us butterflies in our tummies. Love also turns on the neurotransmitter dopamine, which is known to stimulate the brain’s pleasure centers. Couple that with a drop in levels of serotonin, which adds a dash of obsession, and you have the crazy, pleasing, stupefied, urgent love of infatuation.
As people fall deeper into love, the brain floods again – this time with oxytocin, released when people are physically affectionate, and vasopressin, which generates the desire to protect one’s partner – creating feelings of attachment. While scientists have a good handle on hormones and how they relate to love, we may never understand the science of love fully. For example, science cant explain (at least not yet) why were attracted to the people were attracted to.
