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- 1. Randy Ludwig TNDY 402 FEB 14— 2011 The Biology of Love, Sex & Attraction
- 2. 1. Types of LOVE 2. Biochemistry of LOVE 3. Applications 4. Conclusion OVERVIEW:
- 3. A few Stats: Age of first marriage: Women: 24.8 years Men: 27.3 years The probability of first marriage by age 30: 74% for women 61% for men. The probability of first marriage by age 40: 86% for women 81% for men. (Goodwin, McGill, & Chandra, 2009)
- 4. A few Stats: 17% of women & 25% of men have not married by age 35. 12% of women have not married by age 40, 17% of men have not married by age 40. The probability that men and women will marry by age 40 is over 80%. (Goodwin, McGill, & Chandra, 2009)
- 5. If it feels different, it is different TYPES: 1. Lust (Sex) 2. Passionate Love (Infatuation/Romantic Love) 3. Companionate Love (Attachment) 4. Maternal Love
- 6. Lust/Sex: TYPES: 1. Testosterone: (C19 H28 O2 ) • Increases sexual arousal in men & women 2. Estradiol: (C18 H24 O2 ) • Associated with higher sexual activity in women • Higher masturbation rates • Preference for “manly” faces 3. Dopamine & Norepinephrine • Non-selective sex, goodness of fit not important Main Drivers: 1. Medial insula 2. Anterior cingulate 3. Hypothalamus 4. Nucleus accumbens 5. VTA Key Brain Areas Involved:
- 7. Passionate Love: TYPES: 1. Dopamine: (DA) 2. Norepinephrine: (NE) 3. Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) • Exhilaration and euphoria Increases in: 1. Serotonin: (5HT) 2. Frontal Lobe 3. Amygdala 4. Parietal lobe Decreases in: 1. Anterior cingulate 2. Hippocampus 3. Nucleus accumbens 4. Hypothalamus 5. VTA 6. Caudate nucleus Key Brain Areas Involved: Excess DA & NE tend to reduce 5HT Obsession
- 9. Pleasure Centers In the Brain: Orbitofrontal Cortex (OFC)
- 10. 11. ________ 1. ________ 2. ________ 3. ________ 4. ________ 10. ________ 9. ________ 8. ________ 7. ________ 6. ________ 5. ________ Corpus Callosum Cingulate Gyrus Thalamus Cerebellum Hippocampus Medulla Pons Amygdala Pituitary Gland Hypothalamus Nucleus Accumbens
- 11. Companionate Love: TYPES: 1. Oxytocin: (OXT) 2. Vasopressin: (AVP) • Calmer type of love, emotional bond • EX: grandparents married for 30 years Increases in: 1. Serotonin: (5HT) Decreases in: • Chemically similar • Produced in hypothalamus • Released from pituitary gland
- 12. Maternal Love: TYPES: 1. Oxytocin: (OXT) 2. Vasopressin: (AVP) • Parent & child Increases in: 1. Serotonin: (5HT) Decreases in: • Hypothalamus not activated • Striatum is activated • Slight reduction in frontal lobe Brain implications:
- 13. Prairie Voles: APPLICATIONS: • Socially monogamous (mate with others at times) • High levels of OXT & AVP receptors • If OXT & AVP blocked: they become promiscuous Montane Voles: • Promiscuous • No long-term attachment • OXT & AVP injections in montane voles doesn’t lead to monogamy—why?
- 14. • Students were approached by another student of the opposite sex, who said: • “I have been noticing you around campus and I find you very attractive.” • This was followed by one of three invitations: – “Would you go out with me tonight?” – “Would you come over to my apartment?” – “Would you go to bed with me?” Clark & Hatfield (1989):
- 15. Go Out Go to Apt. Go to Bed 0 20 40 60 80 100 About half of both sexes said “yes” to the date Percent Saying “Yes”
- 16. Go Out Go to Apt. Go to Bed 0 20 40 60 80 100 About half of both sexes said “yes” to the date Percent Saying “Yes”
- 17. Go Out Go to Apt. Go to Bed 0 20 40 60 80 100 Not a single woman said “yes” to the sexual invitation About half of both sexes said “yes” to the date Percent Saying “Yes”
- 18. Go Out Go to Apt. Go to Bed 0 20 40 60 80 100 Not a single woman said “yes” to the sexual invitation About half of both sexes said “yes” to the date Percent Saying “Yes”
- 19. Go Out Go to Apt. Go to Bed Men were even more likely to say “yes” to the sexual invitation 0 20 40 60 80 100 Not a single woman said “yes” to the sexual invitation About half of both sexes said “yes” to the date Percent Saying “Yes” If men said “No,” then they typically apologized and/or offered an excuse such as “I’m dating someone”
- 20. Mate Preferences of Women • Economic Resources • Good Financial Prospects • High Social Status • Older Men • Ambition and Industriousness • Dependability and Stability • Athletic Prowess • Good Health and Physical Appearance • Love and Commitment • Willingness to Invest in Children
- 21. Mate Preferences of Males • Desire women who are: – Intelligent, kind, humorous, understanding, & healthy – Similar in terms of values, personality, and religious beliefs
- 22. In Addition... • Youth • A cue for fertility
- 23. Mate Preferences of Males • Youth • Physical Beauty • full lips, clear skin, smooth skin, clear eyes, lustrous hair, good muscle tone, & attractive body fat distribution • Behavior: youthful gait, animated facial expression, & high energy level – “Average” & symmetrical faces are more attractive
- 24. Mate Preferences of Males • Youth • Physical Beauty • Body Fat and the Critical Waist-to-Hip Ratio (WHR) – Universal preference across cultures... – .70 is optimal
- 26. References: Clark, R.D., & Hatfield, E. (1989). Gender differences in receptivity oto sexual offers. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 20, 771-782. Fisher, J, Aron, A, & Brown, L.L. (2005). Romantic Love: an fmri study of a neural mechanism for mate choice. The Journal of Comparative Neurology. 493:58, 58-62. Fisher, H.E., Aron, A., Mashek, D., Haifang, L., & Brown, L.L. (2002). Defining the brain systems of lust, romantic attraction, and attachment. Archives of Sexual Behavior. 31:5, 413-419. Johnson, S. (2009). Addicted to love. The Brain. Winter, 50-55. Savulescu, J., & Sandberg, A. (2008). Neuroenhancement of love and marriage: The chemicals between us. Nueroethics. !:31, 31-44 Zeki, S. (2006). The neurobiology of love. FEBS Letters 581, 2575- 2579.