This is a season of Love. Love is deeply biological. It pervades every aspect of our lives and has inspired countless works of art. Love also has a profound effect on our mental and physical state. A “broken heart” or a failed relationship can have disastrous effects; bereavement disrupts human physiology and may even precipitate death. Without loving relationships, humans fail to flourish, even if all of their other basic needs are met. As such, love is clearly not “just” an emotion; it is a biological process that is both dynamic and bidirectional in several dimensions. What role does oxytocin play here?
Dont think its caused by chemicals. I think it causes the release of chemicals!
Oxytocin is a powerful hormone produced in the hypothalamus and released by the pituitary gland. Medically speaking, it's a neuropeptide, a short chain polypeptide that's used as a neurotransmitter, relaying a signal from one neuron to another. Oxytocin binds to oxytocin receptors which can be found on cells in the brain as well as the rest of the body.
Often referred to as the “love hormone” or “cuddle chemical,” oxytocin plays a crucial role in our lives. Socially, it helps us forge connections with other people, helps us feel happy, reduces stress, and even triggers our protective instincts.
I agree in depth with Dr Zina Hashem Shehab. Beside its effects on male and female reproductive systems and the female mammary gland, oxytocin has a major role with regard to human social and emotional behavior, social recognition, and social bonding. For this reason, it is called "love hormone" or the "cuddle chemical".
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