The fMRI of Love

A.J. Jacobs slips into an fMRI machine to test what his brain looks like when he's thinking of his wife—and what it looks like when he's thinking of Angelina Jolie. It's a jumping off point to discuss the chemistry of love, one of the most interesting (and mysteriously painful) matters of modern neuroscience:
The three systems are intertwined. For instance, sex boosts attachment. When you have an orgasm, your brain pumps out oxytocin, heightening feelings of closeness. Which is why one-night stands often last past one night. And why exhausted married couples should force themselves to hump once in a while. In fact, semen itself contains oxytocin. You literally have a love syringe between your legs.Photo: MacRonin47




pork musket
#1 – 9:12 AM May 18, 2009
A love syringe? Poor guy.
Anonymous Anonymous
#2 – 11:57 AM May 18, 2009
"You literally have a love syringe between your legs." Which can be said truly, because there are no girls on the internet.
bobtails Quincy
Anonymous Anonymous
#3 – 12:11 PM May 18, 2009
Thought I had heard the term "love syringe" before. In 2007, Sick Corp produced a game called Syringe Love. Haven't played it, just remembered the term and thought it was strange.
Anonymous Anonymous
#4 – 1:30 PM May 18, 2009
Now forwarding to wife, mother of my two small children.
monstrinho_do_biscoito
#5 – 3:12 AM May 19, 2009
interesting article, but the photo here is better. what a cool looking machine