

Then, when you actually do see them, your brain “rewards” you with more dopamine, which you experience as intense pleasure. Simply thinking about the object of your affections is enough to trigger dopamine release, making you feel excited and eager to do whatever it takes to see them.

Your brain’s reward system relies on this important chemical to reinforce pleasurable behaviors, including: That giddy, euphoric excitement you feel when spending time with the person you love (or seeing them across the room, or hearing their name)? You can trace this entirely normal effect of falling in love back to the neurotransmitter dopamine. Here’s a look at some of the major effects. The brain changes triggered by love certainly affect your mood and behavior when these feelings are new, but some effects linger long past the first blush of love, continuing to strengthen your commitment over time. While terms like “thinking with your heart,” “you’re in my heart,” and “heartbroken” make this pretty understandable, you really have your brain to thank - that’s where it all goes down. When you think of love, your heart might be the first organ that comes to mind.
