Neural Correlates of Love

The Neural Correlates of Love

Neural Substrates of Love

Few subjects have attracted as much attention as romantic love. However, the way romantic love is perceived in different cultures differs greatly. For example, in some countries people do not believe in romantic love, calling it instead an intoxication. Regardless, the purpose of the present short essay is to outline the neural correlates of love. As one knows from neuroscience, the human brain is an incredibly complex object mostly active in its entirety at any one time. But, using neuroimaging studies, scientists have been able to pinpoint the neural correlates of certain behaviours and even thought processes, such as the emotion and state of profound affection and attachment.

DeWall et al. (2011) point out that the need to belong is basic and common to all humans. Nevertheless, the particular way in which to satisfy that need varies among individuals. Using neuroimaging techniques and a simulated social exclusion paradigm, the authors show that different attachment styles (the reader is referred to Mary Ainsworth’s theory on attachment styles) result in distinct patterns of neural activation. Thus, the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex and the anterior insula, regions associated with rejection, were more active in individuals exhibiting attachment anxiety, than in participants showing attachment avoidance. Also, avoidance resulted in higher activity in the ventrolateral prefrontal cortex than did anxiety.

Facial expression are recognized worldwide. Smiling and greeting gestures (although unlike emotional expression these may vary) are interpreted by many as a positive sign of acceptance. However, species differ in their monogamous versus polygamous mating preferences. Image: Copyright © Elena

But what about romantic love? On the one hand, Xu et al. (2011) remind the reader of the argument that romantic love is a relatively recent invention of the Western world. The researchers also report that people from other cultures often associate the feeling with negative events, such as heartbreak and unwanted intrusive thoughts. Notwithstanding, to pinpoint neural correlates, the study compared brain activations in students from China, Beijing during infatuation. So, it turned out that relationship satisfaction at the beginning at the beginning correlates with union fulfillment after 18 months. As they themselves explained, their work was the first to include such a follow up. Cortical regions activated were consistent with the usual reward and motivation brain circuitry, and thus a detailed review is excluded from the present short essay.

On the other hand, Acevedo et al. (2011) examined neural substrates of prolonged marriages. Again, some opinions adavacned in the community, suggest that passionate love is either completely false or, at best, temporary. Once more, neuronal reward circuits were activated. Participants looking at a picture of a long-term spouse, for whom they still expressed strong feelings, showed activations in dopaminergic (reward) networks, mainly the ventral tegmental are, globus pallidus, substantia nigra, Raphe nucleus, thalamus, insular cortex, dorsal striatum, as well as, the posterior and anterior cingulate cortices.

Finally, in another neuroimaging study (fMRI – functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging), Stoessel et al. (2011) compared the neural states of people happily and unhappily in love. They found that brain activity was decreased in requited versus jilted or separated lovers. The regions exhibiting reduced BOLD (Blood Oxygen Level Dependent) changes were: the frontal lobe, anterior and posterior cingulate cortices, insula, precuneus and caudate nucleus (all regions associated with reward and emotional circuitry). Additionally, the insula is believed to likewise respond to maternal love. The authors hypothesize that happy partners experienced the stimuli (ex.: photography of beloved) as more rewarding than their dissatisfied counterparts.

What is love? Religion may provide some answers. Albeit a different kind than that experienced with partners, love may be likewise directed towards inanimate objects. For instance, persons will often name the emotion when expressing their admiration for material goods or concepts. Psychedelic art. Image: Copyright © Elena

References:

    Acevedo, B. P., Aron, A., Fisher, H. E. & Brown, L. L. (2011). Neural correlates of long-term romantic love. Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience (SCAN), Advance Access (January 5): 1-15.

    DeWall, C. N., Masten, C.L., Powell, C., Combs, D., Schurtz, D. R. & Eisenberger, N. I. (2011). Do neural responses to rejection depend on attachment style? An fMRI study. Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience (SCAN), Advance Access (July 14): 1-9.

    Stoessel, C., Stiller, J., Bleich, S., Boensch, D., Doerfler, A., Garcia, M., Richter-Schmidinger, T., Kornhuber, J. & Forster, C. (2011). Differences and similarities in neuronal activities of people being happily and unhappily in love: A functional magnetic resonance imaging study. Neuropsychobiology, 64: 52-60.

    Xu, X., Aron, A., Brown, L., Cao, G., Feng, T. & Weng, X. (2011). Reward and motivation systems: A brain mapping study of early-stage intense romantic love in Chinese participants. Human Brain Mapping, 32: 249-257.

Copyright © 2011 Megan Jorgensen. All rights reserved.