Love Phenomenon and Neurobiology of Love Relations

Abstract

The biology; especially the neurobiological features of the �love� phenomenon has recently started to attract attention. Love relations and attachment, which is closely related with them, are known to be important in health and disease. Love and love relations are found to be complex neurobiological phenomena based on activation of the limbic system of the brain. Those processes involve oxytocin, vasopressin, dopamine and serotonergic functions. Additionally, endorphine and endogenous opiate systems as well as nitrous oxide play role in those processes. The stages of love and love relations may demonstrate different neurochemical and neurophysiological features and may partially overlap with m aternal, romantic and sexual love and attachments. The aim of this article is to evaluate the common neurobiological pathways underlying the �love� phenomenon as well as their importance in medicine and health.

Keywords

• Love, Neurobiology, Oxytocin, Serotonin, Attachment, Vazopressin

Aşk Fenomeni ve Sevgi İlişkilerinin Nörobiyolojisi

Öz

Aşk� fenomeninin biyolojisi, özellikle de nörobiyolojik yönleri ancak yakın tarihte ilgi çekmeye başlamıştır. Sevgi ilişkilerinin ve yakından ilişkili oldukları bağlanma kavramının sağlıkta ve hastalıkta önem taşıdığı bilinmektedir. Eldeki veriler, aşk ve sevgi ilişkilerinin limbik sistem aktivasyonuna dayanan karmaşık, nörobiyolojik fenomenler olduklarını göstermektedir. Bu süreçler oksitosin, vazopressin, dopamin ve serotonerjik işlevleri içermektedir. Bu süreçlerde endorfin ve endojen opiat sistemleri ve nitrik oksitte rol oynamaktadır. Aşk ve sevgi ilişkilerinin değişik evreleri farklı nörokimyasal ve nörofizyolojik özellikler gösterip, maternal, romantik ve cinsel sevgi ve bağlanmalarla kısmen örtüşebilir. Bu yazıda �aşk� fenomeninin altında yatan ortak nörobiyolojik yolaklar ve bu yolakların tıp ve sağlık açısından önemi gözden geçirilmiştir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Aşk, Sevgi, Nörobiyoloji, Bağlanma, Dopamin, Vasopressin

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