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| Is love just a chemical cocktail? | Is love just a chemical cocktail? |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| By Pallab Ghosh BBC News science correspondent A rich experience, or just a bunch of chemicals? | By Pallab Ghosh BBC News science correspondent A rich experience, or just a bunch of chemicals? |
| It is said that love is a drug. But is it just a drug? | It is said that love is a drug. But is it just a drug? |
| That is the contention of Larry Young, a professor of neuroscience at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. | That is the contention of Larry Young, a professor of neuroscience at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. |
| Writing in the respected scientific journal Nature, Professor Young argues that love can be explained by a series of neurochemical events in specific brain areas. | Writing in the respected scientific journal Nature, Professor Young argues that love can be explained by a series of neurochemical events in specific brain areas. |
| If it is true, he says, people will no longer have to rely on oysters or chocolates to create a loving mood. | If it is true, he says, people will no longer have to rely on oysters or chocolates to create a loving mood. |
| Instead, it will be possible for scientists to develop aphrodisiacs - chemicals that would make people fall in love with the first person they see. | Instead, it will be possible for scientists to develop aphrodisiacs - chemicals that would make people fall in love with the first person they see. |
| And for those who have fallen in love with someone they shouldn't have, there could be an antidote to unrequited love. | |
| There is even the prospect of a genetic "love test" to assess whether two potential love-birds are predisposed to a happy married life. | |
| Not poetry | Not poetry |
| Poets would have us believe that love is one of those things that are beyond understanding. | Poets would have us believe that love is one of those things that are beyond understanding. |
| But that concept is anathema to Professor Young. | But that concept is anathema to Professor Young. |
| Oysters are known as one of the more traditional aphrodisiacs "I'm not sure we'll be able to understand it fully," he said. | Oysters are known as one of the more traditional aphrodisiacs "I'm not sure we'll be able to understand it fully," he said. |
| "But my belief is that our emotions have evolved from behaviours and emotions that are in the animal kingdom. | "But my belief is that our emotions have evolved from behaviours and emotions that are in the animal kingdom. |
| "I don't think that the way a mother loves her baby is that different to a mother's love in a chimpanzee or a rhesus monkey - or even a rat." | "I don't think that the way a mother loves her baby is that different to a mother's love in a chimpanzee or a rhesus monkey - or even a rat." |
| In animals, scientists have observed that a chemical called oxytocin is involved in developing a bond between a mother and her young. | In animals, scientists have observed that a chemical called oxytocin is involved in developing a bond between a mother and her young. |
| Professor Young believes it is very likely that a similar process is going on in humans. | Professor Young believes it is very likely that a similar process is going on in humans. |
| "It's just that when we experience these emotions they are so rich we can't imagine that they are just a series of chemical events," he said. | "It's just that when we experience these emotions they are so rich we can't imagine that they are just a series of chemical events," he said. |
| But even if that is true of maternal love, is romantic love simply down to a squirt of oxytocin and a few other love chemicals at a timely moment? | But even if that is true of maternal love, is romantic love simply down to a squirt of oxytocin and a few other love chemicals at a timely moment? |
| Professor Young thinks it might be. | Professor Young thinks it might be. |
| Intense bonds | Intense bonds |
| Researchers have found that oxytocin is involved in the bonding of male and the female prairie voles, which like humans, form an intense bond with each other that lasts for a very long time. | Researchers have found that oxytocin is involved in the bonding of male and the female prairie voles, which like humans, form an intense bond with each other that lasts for a very long time. |
| And there have been studies in humans that show that oxytocin increases trust - the ability to read the emotions of others. | And there have been studies in humans that show that oxytocin increases trust - the ability to read the emotions of others. |
| So, Professor Young argues that it makes sense that the same sort of molecule might be involved in strengthening the bond between individuals. | So, Professor Young argues that it makes sense that the same sort of molecule might be involved in strengthening the bond between individuals. |
| We shouldn't think that this perspective on its own provides a full understanding of what love is Professor Nick BostromOxford University | We shouldn't think that this perspective on its own provides a full understanding of what love is Professor Nick BostromOxford University |
| He believes there are other chemicals involved too - it is just a matter of doing the research and finding out which ones they are. | He believes there are other chemicals involved too - it is just a matter of doing the research and finding out which ones they are. |
| "I'm sure that we are just beginning to tap the surface," he said. | "I'm sure that we are just beginning to tap the surface," he said. |
| "There are hundreds of signalling molecules in the brain - they all act in different brain areas. | "There are hundreds of signalling molecules in the brain - they all act in different brain areas. |
| "I think one day we will have a much better understanding of how all these chemicals interact and act in specific brain areas that have specific function that give rise to these complex emotions." | "I think one day we will have a much better understanding of how all these chemicals interact and act in specific brain areas that have specific function that give rise to these complex emotions." |
| Other scientists argue that upbringing and psychology play a part. | Other scientists argue that upbringing and psychology play a part. |
| Professor Nick Bostrom, director of Oxford University's Future of Humanity Institute, said: "We shouldn't think that this perspective on its own provides a full understanding of what love is. | Professor Nick Bostrom, director of Oxford University's Future of Humanity Institute, said: "We shouldn't think that this perspective on its own provides a full understanding of what love is. |
| "There are also evolutionary, psychological, sociological, phenomenological (a philosophical approach and method of qualitative research) and humanistic perspectives that offer important insights." | "There are also evolutionary, psychological, sociological, phenomenological (a philosophical approach and method of qualitative research) and humanistic perspectives that offer important insights." |
| "Nurture has an important part to play," Professor Young conceeds. | "Nurture has an important part to play," Professor Young conceeds. |
| "But the way nurture works is through changing neurochemistry. | "But the way nurture works is through changing neurochemistry. |
| "We know from studies in humans that women that have experienced abuse or neglect early in their life have decreased levels of oxytocin in their brain.Some perfumes contain oxytocin, a chemical which helps human bonding | "We know from studies in humans that women that have experienced abuse or neglect early in their life have decreased levels of oxytocin in their brain.Some perfumes contain oxytocin, a chemical which helps human bonding |
| "So I totally agree that our experiences have a huge impact on our ability to form relationships - but that impact occurs through changes in neurochemistry and gene expression." | "So I totally agree that our experiences have a huge impact on our ability to form relationships - but that impact occurs through changes in neurochemistry and gene expression." |
| So, if love really is just a complex chemical reaction, could that most powerful of human emotions be manipulated? | So, if love really is just a complex chemical reaction, could that most powerful of human emotions be manipulated? |
| "Oxytocin increases eye gaze, increases our ability to recognise emotions in others," Professor Young said. | "Oxytocin increases eye gaze, increases our ability to recognise emotions in others," Professor Young said. |
| "It may actually enhance our ability to form relationships, and so it is a very real possibility that something like oxytocin could be used in conjunction with marital therapies to bring back that spark." | "It may actually enhance our ability to form relationships, and so it is a very real possibility that something like oxytocin could be used in conjunction with marital therapies to bring back that spark." |
| There are already perfumes on the market containing oxytocin, but Professor Young believes the levels are too low for it to be an effective aphrodisiac. | There are already perfumes on the market containing oxytocin, but Professor Young believes the levels are too low for it to be an effective aphrodisiac. |
| "But I think in the future we can develop drugs that readily pass into the brain and can target certain brain areas that could do this," he said. | "But I think in the future we can develop drugs that readily pass into the brain and can target certain brain areas that could do this," he said. |
| Professor Bostrom believes it will become increasingly possible to manipulate the neurological mechanisms that play a role in romantic attachment. | Professor Bostrom believes it will become increasingly possible to manipulate the neurological mechanisms that play a role in romantic attachment. |
| "Used wisely, such pharmacology could enhance human experience and mitigate unnecessary suffering. | "Used wisely, such pharmacology could enhance human experience and mitigate unnecessary suffering. |
| "However, this kind of manipulation would raise a thicket of ethical and cultural issues, which would need to be carefully explored." | "However, this kind of manipulation would raise a thicket of ethical and cultural issues, which would need to be carefully explored." |