Love induces euphoria similar to cocaine abuse--study

According to the study, a look of the loved one stimulates 12 different centers of brain to release a rush of ‘feel good’ chemicals such as dopamine, oxytocin, adrenaline, and vasopression.

Since same chemicals are released on taking a dose of cocaine, researchers suggest the feeling of falling in love gives the same high as the intake of drug.

Cocaine is a strong nervous system stimulant that disrupts the functionality of neurotransmitters that convey messages to brain.

Study details and findings
Stephanie Ortigue , assistant professor of Psychology, at Syracuse University, New York, along with her colleagues conducted a meta analysis called ‘The Neuroimaging of Love’ to test brain’s reaction to love.

It was found that falling in love takes just 0.2 seconds and the effect is comparable to that of cocaine use.

The research team also found that the couples who had just fallen in love tested with higher blood levels of nerve growth factor, or NGF.

Previous studies have shown that this chemical presumably plays an important role in the 'love at first sight.'

Those who felt the first flush of love, experienced higher levels of NGF compared to the ones who were not in love, the study authors noted.

Lead researcher, Professor Stephanie Ortigue, said, “These findings confirm love has a scientific basis. But they beg the question: ‘Does the heart fall in love, or the brain?’

“I would say the brain, but the heart is also related because the complex concept of love is formed by both bottom-up and top-down processes from the brain to the heart and vice versa.”

“For instance, activation in some parts of the brain can generate stimulation to the heart, butterflies in the stomach.

“Some symptoms we sometimes feel as a manifestation of the heart may sometimes be coming from the brain,” Ortigue added.

Other findings
Findings of the study also showed that different kinds of love have different bearing on different areas of brain.

For instance, an unconditional love between a mother and a child is triggered by the middle of the brain.

While, a passionate love activates different parts of the brain, namely the reward part, and brain centers that control high-order cognitive functions, like body image.
“These results confirm love has a scientific basis,” she concluded.

Researchers aver that study results can be a subject of concern for neuroscience and mental health research as it might explain that a broken relationship could be a result of emotional stress and depression.

The findings of the study were published in the ‘Journal of Sexual Medicine.’