Jim Govatos: The chemistry of "chemistry"

Several years ago, National Geographic produced an article on the chemistry of love. Researchers had shown that "falling in love" produced elevated levels of dopamine, the chemical that produces feelings of intense energy and exhilaration. Maybe dopamine is why people in love so often act dopey!

The bad news is that a dopamine-rush tops out at 18 months or so. That is why people "fall out" of love after a while. Unless, of course, oxytocin, the chemical of bonding and wellbeing kicks in in the meantime. Then the relationship could last for years, though perhaps without the dopamine kick.

So, what causes the dopamine-rush in the first place? Theories vary. Some researchers believe it is visual (waist-to-hip ratio in females, "rugged looks"—whatever those are—in males). An even more fascinating theory has to do with smell. A Swiss scientist had a sample of 49 women smell the sweaty T-shirts of a variety of men with a range of genotypes (genetic variations). The women tended to pick the shirts of men who had very different genotypes from them as best smelling. I guess opposites really do attract!

With all this biological information now available about love, I was wondering how it might change some of our love songs:

“Killing Me Softly with His Smell”

“I'll Be There, as Long as the Oxytocin Holds Out”

“I Just Called to Say My Neuro-receptors Are Going Wild”

“Always in My Nose”

“Crazy (can't improve on this one since Serotonin levels in lovers and OCD people are the same)”

Well, you get the idea.

I'm glad scientists are doing so much to help us understand how the human brain works. I'm not so sure that all human experience is reducible to chemistry, though. I just participated in the renewal of vows for a couple who have been married for 61 years. Their take on love was a little different than National Geographic's. The man wrote:

"Understanding and respecting each other's strengths and weaknesses, accepting and loving each other, just as we are, without criticizing or trying to change the other is really our secret for 61 years of loving, living, and looking forward to eternity together."

With God's help, they built a life that has survived the ups and downs of dopamine and oxytocin, and thrived. Kind of makes you wonder if love isn't really more about theology than biology?

For a tongue-in-cheek look at the chemistry of love check out Lauren Slater's article: http://bit.ly/1gNQibW