It seems natural that we expand our knowledge to encompass that which we held must remain obscure for obscurity"s sake. The idea of every phenomenon that impinges upon our field of awareness must be subject to the rigors of intelligent inquiry.
Let"s talk about love
The analysis of love has moved from the embrace of poets into the arms of science. A recent series of precise studies reveal some of the key brain areas and molecules involved in the ability to love and bond with others. This research creates a better understanding of how the brain controls love and bonding, which is critical for species survival. In addition, the work may help researchers find ways to treat disorders like autism that are characterized by deficits in social interaction.
"Give all to love," says poet Ralph Waldo Emerson. "Obey thy heart."
Research, however, now makes it clear that the ability to love and bond with others stems from our brain. In recent years studies have uncovered some of the main brain areas and molecules involved in the process. These new insights are leading to:
A better understanding of how the brain controls love and bonding, a behavior that is critical for species survival.
New ideas on how to treat disorders, such as autism and Asperger"s Syndrome, which are characterized by deficits in social interaction.
Thinking back on that biology class that reviewed how the heart, acting as a mere cog, pumps blood, it makes sense that the thinking part of your body, the brain, is a better candidate for controlling love and bonding. Yet, only recently have researchers started to examine the idea on a scientific level.
Some of the new research finds that our ability to love and bond to others arises from the activation of certain brain circuits that are thought to help reinforce behaviors by producing feelings of pleasure or reward. For example, in one recent study, researchers used imaging techniques to highlight the brain activity of people experiencing romantic love or maternal love. (See my contributions to this issue).
Participants in the romantic group professed to be "truly, deeply, and madly in love" with a boyfriend or girlfriend. Researchers measured the groups' brain activity while they viewed pictures of their boyfriend or girlfriend, compared with pictures of friends. In the maternal group, moms viewed pictures of their infants, compared with pictures of other babies they were acquainted with. The study found that regions in the brain's reward system were active in participants experiencing romantic love or maternal love. In addition, the areas coincide with some regions where the brain hormones oxytocin and vasopressin are active.
The hormones oxytocin and vasopressin are important for social attachment, according to a series of precise studies in monogamous mice-like animals, known as prairie voles. In the above two images, the blue coloring signals where oxytocin can create actions in the vole brain and the red coloring signals where vasopressin can create actions. Some of these highlighted brain areas are thought to be associated with reward. Researchers believe that oxytocin and vasopressin create bonding in these animals, and possibly humans, by activating brain areas that produce feelings of pleasure or reward, which helps reinforce behaviors.
A series of studies in mice-like animals, known as prairie voles, which have a penchant for monogamy, indicate that both of these hormones are important for social attachment. For example, researchers found that supplements of either oxytocin or vasopressin increase the voles' social contact with other voles and their development of a preference for a familiar partner. When voles receive a compound that blocks the activity of either oxytocin or vasopressin, supplements of the hormones do not create any partner preference and social contact is low. This and other work in voles shows the hormones aid attachment. (Recommended reading: The Tangled Wing by M. Konner).
Prairie voles: Faithful to the end…
Although it's still not clear how the findings translate to humans, some research indicates that these hormone systems may malfunction in people who have difficulties with social interaction. Included are those with autism and Asperger"s who also tend to have problems communicating and often repeat activities again and again. One study discovered that a group of children with autism had lower levels of oxytocin in their blood than a group of normal children, suggesting that their oxytocin systems were failing. Other work also found preliminary evidence that those with autism may harbor deficits in their vasopressin systems.
Based on these findings, researchers are interested in designing methods that could normalize the hormone systems in people with autism. They recently found that infusions of oxytocin reduced repetitive behaviors in adults with autism while they were receiving the hormone.
Next, scientists plan to test whether the hormone supplements aid social deficits in people with autism. The infusion technique, however, doesn't create lasting effects, so scientists also plan to develop other strategies that may better stabilize the oxytocin system. (See my lessons on Asperger"s).
More work is needed to clearly decipher the brain's involvement in love and bonding. Regardless, much evidence already says that many valentines, ballads, and romantic poems warrant a revision, at least for accuracy's sake. "Give all to love. Obey thy brain."
The Kiss by Francesco Hayez
In summary
The field of neuroscience has opened new dimensions and chartered new directions in the way we think and conceptualize ourselves in the unlimited universe which we inhabit.
Neuroscience is also responsible for guiding us through the maze of, often unsuspected destinies that tint the panorama of our inner worlds.
Is through neuroscience that we have ventured to research the meaning of mysticism and God as those concepts emerge within the very fabric of our brains, organ where our emotions originate.
A world conceived without neuroscience would remain as dark as the Void.
But, a world conceived in and within neuroscience is a shadowless world, a world rich in clarity, amazing symphonies and everlasting insights.
Bibliography
Furnished on request.
Autor:
Félix E. F. Larocca MD