Love 'as addictive as cocaine'
Love could be as addictive as cocaine or speed, scientists have said.
According to Dr John Marsden, head of the National Addiction Centre at the Maudsley Hospital in London, when you are attracted to someone your brain releases the drug dopamine, giving the same reaction that taking cocaine or speed would create.
"Attraction and lust really is like a drug. It leaves you just wanting more," he said.
However like the drugs - the first flush of love is temporary.
"Scientific research reveals the first flush of love lasts only between three and seven years," he added.
The findings, which will appear in a BBC documentary next month, also investigate the link between people's smells, facial features and genes.
"Being attracted to someone sparks the same incredible feelings no matter who you are. Love really does know no boundaries," he said.
He explained that when we are attracted to someone part of the brain which processes emotions is fired up causing the heart to pound three times faster than normal and causes blood to be diverted to the cheeks and sexual organs, which causes the feeling of butterflies in the stomach.
"It might look like we are all after the perfect partner to wine and dine but underneath all that our animal instincts are seeking out an ideal mate to share our genes with," he said.
Dr Marsden's research also revealed that, "sex is booby-trapped" to make people bond with their partner.
"Your body has evolved over millions of years with one aim - to go forth and multiply, so while having kids may not be on the agenda just yet your body has a few tricks up its sleeve to drag you in that direction," he said.
According to the research the more people have sex together, the more likely they are to bond.
"We all know you can have sex without falling in love but if you have enough sex with the same person there's a good chance you will hit the body's booby trap which is there to tip you head over heels into love," he said.
"So your body goes all out to make you bond with your partner and that makes love highly addictive and the withdrawal sucks."
Body Hits: Love Story is on BBC3 on Thursday December 4.
Heres is the link.
Love could be as addictive as cocaine or speed, scientists have said.
According to Dr John Marsden, head of the National Addiction Centre at the Maudsley Hospital in London, when you are attracted to someone your brain releases the drug dopamine, giving the same reaction that taking cocaine or speed would create.
"Attraction and lust really is like a drug. It leaves you just wanting more," he said.
However like the drugs - the first flush of love is temporary.
"Scientific research reveals the first flush of love lasts only between three and seven years," he added.
The findings, which will appear in a BBC documentary next month, also investigate the link between people's smells, facial features and genes.
"Being attracted to someone sparks the same incredible feelings no matter who you are. Love really does know no boundaries," he said.
He explained that when we are attracted to someone part of the brain which processes emotions is fired up causing the heart to pound three times faster than normal and causes blood to be diverted to the cheeks and sexual organs, which causes the feeling of butterflies in the stomach.
"It might look like we are all after the perfect partner to wine and dine but underneath all that our animal instincts are seeking out an ideal mate to share our genes with," he said.
Dr Marsden's research also revealed that, "sex is booby-trapped" to make people bond with their partner.
"Your body has evolved over millions of years with one aim - to go forth and multiply, so while having kids may not be on the agenda just yet your body has a few tricks up its sleeve to drag you in that direction," he said.
According to the research the more people have sex together, the more likely they are to bond.
"We all know you can have sex without falling in love but if you have enough sex with the same person there's a good chance you will hit the body's booby trap which is there to tip you head over heels into love," he said.
"So your body goes all out to make you bond with your partner and that makes love highly addictive and the withdrawal sucks."
Body Hits: Love Story is on BBC3 on Thursday December 4.
Heres is the link.
