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