As Drew Barrymore’s character pronounced several times in the 2004 hit rom-com 50 First Dates, there is nothing like a first kiss. We all know that feeling: when your heart skips a beat when your phone dings because you think it might be from them; when you find yourself thinking about them during the day, replaying the night you spent with them in your head; when you start to rearrange certain parts of your life because it would better accommodate them. These giddy, smitten, head-over-heels, feeling-some-kind-of-way feelings. Let’s see what’s going on in our brains as these new feelings come crashing down on us like a tidal wave.
I’m sure you have heard of dopamine before. It is a neurotransmitter made in your brain when you are expecting a reward or something pleasurable to happen, felt strongly even in the anticipation of being able to touch their face again. Dopamine is one of the strongest positive motivators we can feel, and can even induce feelings of euphoria if you get enough of it. There are studies showing that dopamine plays a role in addiction, which may explain why sometimes it feels as if you are “addicted” to the person you’re falling for: you just can’t get enough of them.
Norepinephrine, also known as noradrenaline, walks hand-in-hand with dopamine, and it is also released into our brains when we first become attracted to someone. This is the chemical responsible for the “fight or flight” responses we feel in stressful situations. We all know that familiar feeling of our hearts and minds racing, leaving us with a lack of appetite and surge of energy. It’s funny that this same set of feelings could apply when face-to-face with a bear on a hiking trail, or the moment their hand reaches out for yours that first time. There is even evidence suggesting that norepinephrine can aid in treating certain psychiatric disorders like anxiety, depression, and even ADHD.
Testosterone has been shown to increase sexual desire in both males and females. Yes, women have testosterone in their system too. Testosterone is one of the chemicals responsible for making us horny, along with others like estrogen and progesterone. Nitric oxide is the chemical that really gets the job done, though, as this is the neurotransmitter responsible for sending blood into our erectile tissues — ie. the penis or clitoris.
Serotonin plays a large role in this chemical concoction we call love as well. It differs in that while we get increases of dopamine, norepinephrine, testosterone, estrogen, and oxytocin (more on this coming up) while with (or thinking about) our love interest, our serotonin levels actually decrease. Serotonin is mostly found in the digestive system and is responsible for essential human functions like eating, sleeping, and regulating our moods.
Lastly, we have oxytocin, otherwise known as the “cuddle hormone,” as it is released during human-to-human contact activities like sex, hugs, breastfeeding, childbirth, and, of course, cuddling. This chemical helps bond us together like glue, letting us become more attached to each other over time, encouraging monogamy, and increasing feelings of trust and intimacy. Oxytocin can also have effects on your physical health, as it can modify blood pressure and lower cortisol (the stress hormone) levels in your body.
Love is the hardest drug there is, so use it responsibly and stay safe out there.
Image: Danyka Van Santen/The Cascade
Andrea Sadowski is working towards her BA in Global Development Studies, with a minor in anthropology and Mennonite studies. When she's not sitting in front of her computer, Andrea enjoys climbing mountains, sleeping outside, cooking delicious plant-based food, talking to animals, and dismantling the patriarchy.
