The Neurobiology of Love

Flashcards covering key concepts related to the neurobiology of love, focusing on neurochemicals, brain regions, and their functions in forming attachments.

Oxytocin

A neurochemical involved in the formation and maintenance of pair bonds and romantic attachment.

Vasopressin

A neurochemical that promotes bonding and attachment, particularly in males.

Dopamine

A chemical that activates reward circuits in the brain and promotes bonding.

Serotonin

A neurotransmitter associated with early love, intrusive thoughts, and anxiety.

Cortisol

A stress hormone elevated during early love that normalizes later on.

Nerve Growth Factor (NGF)

A factor correlated with passion in early romantic love.

Testosterone

A hormone that affects sexual motivation, decreasing in men and increasing in women early in relationships.

Prairie Voles

Monogamous animals used as a model for studying human pair-bonding.

Nucleus Accumbens

A brain region involved in the reward pathway activated during bonding.

Medial Insula

A brain region activated during romantic love associated with reward and motivation.

Anterior Cingulate Cortex (ACC)

A brain area involved in emotional regulation and activated during love.

Amygdala

A brain region deactivated during love that reduces fear and judgment.

Frontal Cortex

A brain region that is typically deactivated in love, affecting decision-making and judgment.

HPA Axis

A complex set of interactions among hormones that are regulated by oxytocin, dampening stress responses.

Social Monogamy

A form of bonding influenced by social factors and not strictly biological constraints.

Neuroimaging Studies

Research methods that reveal brain regions activated during experiences of romantic love.