Brain in love

We want to present how love starts and develops.

How it connects people and how it can survive many years.

How the lovers see love in different moments of their lives.

We found out answers to the following questions:

● How long have the couples been together?

● What is love according to each couple?

● What different phases of love can we find in the relationships and why?

What is love?

Love is phenylethylamine – PEA.It's produced in hypothalamus.

Generally the process of love takes place in 3 stages.

The 3 stages of loveIn the Helen Fisher's speech she distinguished

the three stages of love, called:

● Enchantment/Lust

● Attraction

● Attachment

Enchantment

At the beginning our brain collects information about our partner. At the speed of 432 km/h the signals reach the brain. At this stage of love we have such hormones as:

• Testosterone – a male hormone• Oestrogen – a female hormone.

They are responsible for feeling

of lust.

TestosteroneIn men it's produced by testicles. In women a little amount of testosterone is secreted by ovaries and cortex of the adrenal gland and during pregnancy – by placenta. It's responsible for male characteristics of an organism like:

specific body hair male musculature of the body and a specific

body build (narrower hips, wider shoulders etc.) male voice Adam’s apple

OestrogenIn men it regulates certain functions of the reproductive system, particularly the maturation of sperm, as well as it affects the libido. It’s secreted by testicles and cortex of the adrenal gland. In women it's produced by ovaries. It's responsible for the development of secondary and thirdly sexual characteristics like:

• breasts

• specific hair body

• specific body fat spacing (wide hips etc.)

• appropriately proportions of body

Attraction

When people get to know each other they are delighted. They can’t stop thinking about the person. People in love see the world through the rose-coloured spectacles. They can't see any defects of the other person. They want to spend every free moment together.

AttractionIn this stage we have few hormones and symptoms:

Symptoms:Symptoms: loss of appetite mood swings

euphoria sleep disorder

obsessive thinking about your feelings

Hormones:Hormones: adrenaline dopamine serotonine

Adrenaline

A hormone that:● causes sweating● quickens functioning of the heart● influences on the liver to free potassium

and increase its levels in blood● causes mydriasis● triggers contraction of all blood vessels● makes you blush when seeing

the beloved person

Dopamine – a molecule of happiness

This hormone causes:● burst of energy● tendency to experience everything more

intensely● lessened need of sleep or food● focused attention● fear

Serotonine

Causes:● irritation● lack of concentration● sleeplessness● obsessive thoughts and depressive states● increased sensitivity to pain

AttachmentWhen two people are involved in a relationship, they fall in love which grows every day more and more. People become emotionally attached to each other. Obviously, every relationships gets through some crisis. When they occur, their love can survive or end.

In the third phase of love we have mainly two hormones active:

● Oxytocin● Vasopressin

Oxytocin

It is also called a sensitivity hormone. It is produced in the brain.

This hormone is responsible for:• activation the human feelings of trust• relieving stress and pain• provocation hysterospasms during the childbirth• stimulation the maternal instinct at mothers• is released during exchanging kisses

Vasopressin

This hormone develops feelings of attachment to the partner and fatherhood in men. It is excreted by the posterior pituitary gland. Supposedly, a low level of vasopressin in a man leads to a more emotional attachment to a partner.

In our presentation, we would like to present you all these stages of love.

What do lovers say about love?

All couples say that love is the most important thing in their lives. It can be seen every single day. It's some kind of confidence, sincerity, mutual understanding and support. Partners are glad of each other’s successes. Building love is everyday work. Love involves planning common future.

The youngest couple

Nina and Kuba are together since the 1st January 2015. Their young love started at school. At the begining Nina was in love with another boy but she started to spent more time with Kuba. It was the begining of their love. Nina and Kuba are together to this day. (Sorry, latest news – they are not ;)

In their opinion love is some kind of emotion, state, when we give

somebody our confidence, sincerity and we have a feeling, that

we could do anything for that person.

Parents

Danuta and Pawel Majchrzak

Danuta and Pawel got married in

1990. Now they live in Częstochowa. They have got 2

children.

This year Danuta and Paweł will celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary, which is called in Poland a silver wedding. They met at the university. It seems they are opposites that attract. Paweł likes trekking in the mountains and canoeing. Danuta likes spending her free time at home and taking care of her family.

How did they meet?Their first meeting was when

Paweł saved Danuta from an oppression.Why?

A few days before, during exam time at university Danuta lost

her student record book.

She couldn’t find it anywhere.

Fortunately, Paweł saved his damsel in distress and found

it.

Danuta wanted to express her gratitude to Paweł so she invited him out. Since that

time they have been together.

Which hormons play their role at this stage?

At this stage there predominate such hormones as vasopressin, oxytocin and adrenaline. The intensity of passion falls. We are dealing with the interdependence

of partners. Spouses feel strong commitment to each other. Apart from

love, what connects them is responsibility for the other person and the whole family.

Grandparents

Janina and Piotr Strzalko

Piotr and Janina Strzałko got married in 1964.

They have been together for 50 years. In

2014 they celebrated their golden wedding anniversary. On this occasion the Polish president presented

them with a congratulatory letter

and medals of honour.

How did they meet?

Mr and Mrs Strzałko met thanks to Janina's cousin. One day Janina and her cousin went to a concert. There she met him. It was love at the first sight. The only obstacle were kilometres. Piotr Strzałko

lived in a small village located in the north of Poland, wheras Janina lived 400

kilometers away.

However, they knew they would be together. The

power of their love was as strong as the

number of kilometres which divided them. Their

feeling grew up very fast so they decided to be

together and share everything. A few months

later they got married and moved to

Częstochowa.

Which hormons play their role at this stage?

After 50 years of being together hormones which dominatine are vasopressin and oxytocin. Sexual passion might have disappeared entirely. The brain doesn't react in the same way as 50 years ago.

Our emotions are different at the three stages. At the first stage a couple wants to live their lives to the fullest. At the second

one they start to slow down with adventures but they get to know each

other better. In the last phase the couples often reminisce the years spent together.

The end

Thank you for watching.

We hope that you have enjoyed our presentation.