Chemistry and love

Have you ever fallen in love? Can you describe this feeling? Have you ever thought what it is? And do you expect it to be addictive? Believe it or not, you were right!
It has been shown to scientists that the same chemical process that occurs with addiction is the same that occurs when you fall in love. What is love really? What is the relationship between chemistry and love? What happens in our bodies when we love? What attracts us to someone in the first place?

Firstly, and in a simple way, we can say: Love is a feeling, but what is the benefit of feeling anyway? The evolutionary function of feelings is to stimulate, to stimulate something with the goal of causing benefit or harm. What benefit can we get from feeling like love or what harm can it pay from the viewpoint of biochemistry?
The chemicals that race in our brain when we are in love serve several goals, and the
primary goal is the persistence of the species. These chemicals that make us need to
form a family and have children and once we have children, these chemicals change to
make us stay together to raise these children

We talked at the beginning that love is a feeling closely related to chemicals, so what
are these substances? There are a lot of chemicals racing in the brain and body when
we are in love.Of course, estrogen and testosterone play an important role in the sex drive region, and without them we may never get into the love scene. As for the other substances that play a vital role in the chemistry of love, they are:

a)Norepinephrine

Norepinephrine also known as noradrenaline, norepinephrine is a hormone and neurotransmitter that stimulates the production of adrenaline. This hormone is  responsible for racing heart, sweaty palms, flowing cheeks, and even anorexia that we  experience when we fall in love. Norepinephrine is released from neurons in our brain in the form of norinergic neurons. These form a norepinephrine system that, when activated, affects large areas of the brain. Norepinephrine exerts its effects by binding to target cells and activating its adrenergic receptors. The main target cells include the
spinal cord, hypothalamus and neocortex. High levels of noradrenaline in the brain
increase the joy experience, as well as a loss of appetite.

b)Adrenaline

It is a hormone produced mainly from the adrenal gland in the human body, and is also
produced by some parts of the central nervous system. And when your heart begins to
race when you meet someone, it is because of the adrenaline rush your body produces
when you are attracted to someone, and the body's initial response is feeling fatigue,
rapid heartbeat, and dry mouth. As your digestive system slows down, you feel hungry

c)Dopamine

It is the hormone responsible for the "addiction" that a person feels when he falls in
love. Dopamine is excreted in the brain and transmitted to many areas as it is released
while consuming addictive substances such as nicotine, alcohol and drugs. Because of
the addictive properties, when dopamine is released during an intimate relationship
with a partner, he becomes addicted to it. This hormone is responsible for the feeling
of clinging and jealousy that we experience in love. Scientists believe that dopamine is
associated with a sense of need and anticipation.

d)Serotonin

Serotonin is a neurotransmitter responsible for showing how you feel love. It is mainly
produced from the digestive system, which is a biochemical product of tryptophan. It
is also found in the central nervous system and platelets, the hormone responsible for
anorexia, and sometimes when we fall in love.

And this strange feeling of flying butterflies in your stomach. Serotonin levels help you understand intimacy and romance.

written by:Rasheda Elbohy

references:

a. https://people.howstuffworks.com/love6.htm

b.https://www.reagent.co.uk/the-chemistry-of-love/