Researchers have undertaken a detailed study of love’s effect on the brain. 

Australian scientists have edged closer to demystifying the age-old adage that “love is blind”, by revealing how the brain elevates a loved one during the dizzying heights of early romance. 

This research, a collaborative effort among the Australian National University (ANU), University of Canberra, and University of South Australia, could be a significant leap in our understanding of the neurological underpinnings of love.

Focusing on the brain's behavioural activation system (BAS), the study surveyed 1,556 young adults who professed to being in the throes of love. 

Questions aimed at deciphering their emotional reactions, behaviours, and the prioritisation of their partners above all else, unveiled that love indeed orchestrates a unique cerebral response, centralising our affectionate focus.

Adam Bode, a lead researcher and PhD student at ANU, highlighted the novelty of their findings in the journal Behavioural Sciences. 

“Despite romantic love's profound impact on humans, our grasp on its evolutionary trajectory remains scant,” Bode says. 

“Each discovery brings us closer to understanding this complex emotion that diverged from our primate ancestors approximately five million years ago.”

Historical perspectives on love, back to ancient Greek philosophies and the discovery of a love poem from 2000 BC, underscore the timelessness of this exploration. 

Yet, it is the biochemical dance of oxytocin and dopamine, as Dr Phil Kavanagh from the University of Canberra and UniSA points out, that underscores love's capacity to rewire our emotional and behavioural circuits.

“Oxytocin's role in romantic attachment is well documented, but its interplay with dopamine accentuates the loved one's significance, fostering a pathway rife with positive emotions,” Kavanagh says.

As this research moves forward, its next phase aims to dissect gender differences in romantic perceptions and categorise lovers globally into four distinct types. 

The study is accessible here.