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Endocrine factors of pair bonding
1Institute of Endocrinology, Prague, Czech Republic. lstarka@endo.cz
Prague Medical Report
|September 11, 2008
Summary
Falling in love involves hormonal changes, similar to stress responses, affecting brain chemistry. Hormones like oxytocin and vasopressin may be involved in later stages of romantic love.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Neuroscience
- Psychology
Background:
- Romantic love is a central theme in arts and literature.
- Psychosocial models of attachment acknowledge hormonal roles.
- Human endocrinology has historically overlooked the study of love.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the hormonal underpinnings of falling in love.
- To investigate the neurobiological correlates of romantic attachment.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on hormones and love.
- Analysis of proposed hormonal changes in early and later love stages.
Main Results:
- Falling in love may trigger hormonal stress responses with altered dopamine and serotonin.
- Neurotrophin (transforming growth factor beta) levels may change.
- Endorphins, oxytocin, and vasopressin are implicated in later phases of love.
Conclusions:
- Hormonal events associated with falling in love are increasingly recognized.
- Further research is needed to fully elucidate the endocrinology of love.
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