The concept of love is commonly associated with the heart, like in expressions: "You stole my heart" or "You broke my heart." However, it would be more fitting to express those sentiments as "You stole my brain" or "You broke my brain." The thing is that love originates, develops, thrives, and concludes within the brain.

Attraction, a concept of love that is relatively easy to understand, has been extensively studied by biologists. It is fascinating that within just 200 milliseconds of laying eyes on someone, we can see them as a potential partner. In addition, we have identified several factors that contribute to the attraction, like our self-perception. One study presented participants with pictures of themselves digitally altered to appear as the opposite gender. Both women and men were unable to recognize their image and rated their transformed photo as the most appealing in the collection.

The smell is no less important in the dynamics of attraction. We are drawn to people whose scents differ from our own. The reason behind this lies in the connection between scent and our immune system. Our unique scent depends on our immune system. When we partner with someone whose immune system is distinct from ours, our offspring gain a broader range of disease-fighting capabilities.

So, what happens inside our brains when we are in love? During this phase, our brains release various neurotransmitters. These chemicals profoundly influence our mood and perception. The ventral tegmental area, which happens to come in a heart shape, becomes active when we fall in love, causing the release of dopamine in the brain. This neural response is also provoked when we savor a glass of wine.

Falling in love boosts the production of norepinephrine, a neurotransmitter that alters our perception of time. This organic chemical makes us feel like time is zooming by, keeping us absorbed in every cherished moment spent with our beloved. It may cause compulsive eating, skipping meals, and obsessive thoughts about the person we love. The decrease in serotonin levels can lead to irregular eating patterns or obsessive thoughts revolving around the person we hold dear. Furthermore, physical contact with our partner stimulates the release of oxytocin, a hormone renowned for evoking feelings of empathy and trust. This surge of oxytocin strengthens our emotional connection.