Study: Love At First Sight Is Like Doing Cocaine

Let’s face it; how and under what circumstances sparks fly between two people is still a mystery even in our technologically advanced society. Adding to the debate, a Syracuse University study suggests that falling in love can take just .20 seconds. What’s more, it activates chemicals in the brain that create the same feelings of bliss associated with cocaine.

The London Telegraph explains:

The first flush of love stimulates 12 different parts of the brain to start releasing “feel-good” chemicals such as dopamine, oxytocin, adrenaline and vasopression…The same chemicals are triggered by a dose of cocaine…

Lead researcher Stephanie Ortigue also noted that couples who have just fallen in love have a high level of nerve growth factor, or NGF, in their bloodstream, the molecule that purportedly plays a role in love at first sight.  ScienceDaily.com quotes Dr. Ortigue that “These results confirm love has a scientific basis.”

The results could also help those suffering from depression after a break up. “By identifying the parts of the brain stimulated by love, doctors and therapists can better understand the pains of love-sick patients,” ScienceDaily adds.

The study also found that different kinds of love (e.g., mother-and-child love versus romantic love) apparently activate different parts of the brain.

The full study was published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine.

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