A kiss is not just a kiss
By Sheril KirshenbaumSheril Kirshenbaum
Published: Feb. 7, 2011
Sheril Kirshenbaum, university researcher and author of “The Science of Kissing.”
As Valentine’s Day approaches, kissing is a popular topic. And as the most intimate human experience, the right exchange has the power to start and maintain a special relationship when real chemistry is involved.
Why is kissing so significant? When we are that close to another person, all of our senses are engaged, allowing our bodies to assess compatibility and the potential for a long-term relationship. According to the work of Rutgers University anthropologist Helen Fisher, this behavior evolved to facilitate three essential needs: sex drive, romantic love and attachment. In other words, kissing helps us find partners, commit to one person and keep couples together long enough to have a child.
There is an associated rise in the neurotransmitter dopamine, responsible for craving and desire. Meanwhile, serotonin spikes to stimulate obsessive thoughts about a partner. This is the same neurotransmitter involved in obsessive-compulsive disorder. Oxytocin, popularly called the “love hormone,” is involved in bonding, fostering a sense of attachment. This is the chemical likely responsible for maintaining a loving relationship over years and decades.
Notice anything? The hormones and neurotransmitters coursing through our brains and bodies are responsible for many of the “symptoms” we associate with falling in love.
Read more about Science Study Break on the Life Science Library Web site.
No matter what the outcome, a first kiss is very likely to be unforgettable. Psychologist John Bohannon of Butler University and his research team surveyed 500 people to compare their recollections of a various important life experiences to determine what made the most lasting impression. A first kiss was found to create the most vivid memory and when asked about specifics, most people could recall up to 90 percent of the details of the moment regardless of how long ago it occurred.
Gratteful for sharing this
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