What happens to you when you fall in love? When you meet someone you like the look of, or even if you just see them across a crowded room, your hormones begin to take over and your emotions go crazy. But which hormones are responsible for that beating heart and nervousness?

Well, research has shown that even a first meeting with someone can induce your body to release a cocktail of hormones, including adrenaline, noradrenaline, testosterone (women, too) and just a dash of oxytocin. These hormones will individually affect your physiology but put them together and they account for quite a few of the symptoms of love. (And if you can’t remember what those symptoms are then please stop reading this and try to get out a bit more). 

Symptoms such as ‘my heart missed a beat’, ‘I felt that I was walking on air’, ‘the world stopped spinning’, ‘I lost the ability to speak’ and other such expressions are the result of helpless, hormone-driven feelings. Mind you, if you feel this but the other person looks at you as if they’re inspecting an ironing board, don’t worry - when you go home (alone) your hormones subside and you get back to normal. Just keep telling yourself that time is a great healer, and all that... However, if it’s your lucky day and the other person has a similar rush of hormones, then you are into something good - take care out there because it may just be love!

Adrenaline & Noradrenaline

Adrenaline and noradrenaline are both powerful hormones as well as neurotransmitters. Their effect on the body is pretty fast but the effect on the brain, and your emotions, is instantaneous. Both of these substances are concerned with excitement - in evolutionary terms adrenaline is an important part of the ‘fight or flight’ mechanism. What has that got to do with love? Well, lots of animals put themselves at a big risk in courting; your potential mate may try to attack you or even turn you into an early lunch. Adrenaline will help you summon up the energy to fight or, if you’re no match for your new ‘friend’, to run away. Noradrenaline is more subtle and complex in its actions but we would associate it with awakeness, being alert and being receptive - all of which helps you focus on the job in hand - love.

Testosterone & Oxytocin

Testosterone and oxytocin are both ‘sex hormones’. The old idea that there are "hormones for girls" and "hormones for boys" is wrong; both sexes produce a heady mix of sex hormones. Testosterone is, amongst other things, the hormone of libido, meaning that if and when you see a potential mate your body is getting ready to "perform" if you hit the jackpot. 

Oxytocin is the hormone that is increasingly identified with affection - for instance, when a new baby is born, both parents have a rush of oxytocin which helps them bond and love the baby. The effect of oxytocin is incredibly powerful - it needs to be strong as you continue to love your baby despite constant screaming, dirty diapers, lost sleep and the complete devastation of your social life.  Once upon a time, oxytocin was considered only to be concerned with childbirth and milk production but now its role is viewed as being much greater. To put it simply - in matters of love, oxytocin makes you feel all nice and gooey towards the object of your desire.

Love, Hormones & the Internet -2 (Continue)