Whenever we think about meeting or spending time with the person we love, we get a rush of dopamine. However, the brain does not respond in the same way when we are excited about work. A recent study by neuroscientists at CU Boulder demonstrates why we enjoy being with some people more than others.
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Zoe Donaldson, associate professor of behavioral neuroscience at CU Boulder and lead author of the study, said in a news release that the study reveals a biological signature of desire that helps understand how the brain responds to love.
Research results:
The study was conducted on meadow voles, a species of rodent that shares a similar relationship with humans. They, like people, like to make friends, share a house, raise offspring and grieve when they lose a partner.
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The study looked at what happens to the brain when a rodent falls in love, making intimacy possible, and how they overcome it when the bond is broken.
“As humans, our entire social world is largely defined by varying degrees of selective desire to interact with different people, whether it’s your romantic partner or your close friends. This research suggests that some people leave a unique chemical imprint on our brains that causes us to maintain these connections over time,” said Zoe Donaldson.
The study used neuroimaging technology, and it was observed that holding a partner’s hands or trying to reach a partner causes a surge of dopamine that lights up the sensor. However, when the vole was separated from its partner and forced to stay in a separate area, the sensor’s glow stick remained dim.
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The study helped to understand what role dopamine plays in the motivation to communicate with loved ones. There is also an extra rush of dopamine when we spend quality time with them.
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What happens when we are heartbroken?
The study shines a light of hope for people who have gone through a painful breakup or separation from a loved one. It was observed that when a pair of voles were kept apart for more than four weeks and then reunited, the dopamine rush was lower. It shows that the heart heals over time and is looking for someone new to start over.
