The science of falling in love - Shannon Odell

翻译人员: Yip Yan Yeung 校对人员: Grace Man

Love is often described as heartwarming, heart-wrenching and even heartbreaking.

我们常常把爱描述为暖心的、 令人心痛的，甚至是令人心碎的。

So, what does the brain have to do with it?

那大脑和它有什么关系呢？

Everything!

息息相关！

The journey from first spark to last tear is guided by a symphony

从第一丝火花到最后一滴泪的旅程，

of neurochemicals and brain systems.

由神经化学物质和脑系统共同奏响。

As you begin to fall for someone,

你开始对某人动心的时候，

you may find yourself excessively daydreaming about them

你会发现自己整天都在想他/她，

and wanting to spend more and more time together.

想和他/她待得更久一点。

This first stage of love is what psychologists call infatuation,

爱的第一阶段 被心理学家称为“热恋”，

or passionate love.

或者激情之爱。

Your new relationship can feel almost intoxicating,

这段新的感情会让你如痴如醉，

and when it comes to the brain, that’s not far from the truth.

从大脑来看， 也差不多确实是这个情况。

Infatuated individuals show increased activation in the ventral tegmental area.

热恋中人们的中脑腹侧被盖区 （VTA）会更加活跃。

The VTA is the reward-processing and motivation hub of the brain,

VTA 是大脑中 处理奖赏和激励的中枢，

firing when you do things like eat a sweet treat, quench your thirst,

会在你吃甜品、畅饮一番

or in more extreme cases, take drugs of abuse.

或者更极端一点， 在你滥用药物的时候兴奋起来。

Activation releases the “feel good” neurotransmitter dopamine,

激活的过程会释放神经递质多巴胺， 让你感到“好爽”，

teaching your brain to repeat behaviors in anticipation

训练你的大脑得出 重复这些行为

of receiving the same initial reward.

可以收获同样的奖励的思维。

This increased VTA activity is the reason love's not only euphoric,

VTA 更活跃的活动 让爱不仅令人愉悦，

but also draws you towards your new partner.

也会让你被你的新伴侣吸引。

At this first stage, it may be hard to see any faults in your new perfect partner.

第一阶段，你可能很难看清 你那完美的新伴侣有什么缺点。

This haze is thanks to love’s influence

这团迷雾来源于 爱在大脑高级皮质区产生的影响。

on higher cortical brain regions.

Some newly infatuated individuals show decreased activity

有些刚坠入爱河的人， 他们大脑的认知中心，

in the brain’s cognitive center, the prefrontal cortex.

即前额皮层， 出现了活跃性降低的现象。

As activation of this region allows us to engage in critical thought

由于这个区域的激活 可以让我们辩证地思考，

and pass judgment,

做出判断，

it’s not surprising we tend to see new relationships

我们会透过粉红泡泡 看待新感情也就不奇怪了。

through rose-colored glasses.

While this first stage of love can be

虽然爱的第一阶段

an intense rollercoaster of emotions and brain activity,

可能包括了情感的剧烈起伏 和大脑活动的风云变幻，

it typically only lasts a few months,

但是通常只会持续几个月，

making way for the more long-lasting stage of love,

然后会交接给下一个 更持久的爱的阶段，

known as attachment, or compassionate love.

即依恋，或称为“陪伴之爱”。

As your relationship develops,

感情发生了进展，

you may feel more relaxed and committed to your partner

你会更加放松、更加坚定地 对待你的伴侣，

thanks in large part to two hormones: oxytocin and vasopressin.

这很大程度上来源于两种荷尔蒙： 催产素和加压素。

Known as pair-bonding hormones,

这两种激素成对出现，

they signal trust, feelings of social support and attachment.

产生信任、 互相之间的支持和依赖感。

In this way, romantic love is not unlike other forms of love,

这样，爱情就和其他形式的爱 并无二致，

as these hormones also help bond families and friendships.

因为这些荷尔蒙也会 促进亲情和友情的联结。

Further, oxytocin can inhibit the release of stress hormones,

而且催产素也会抑制 焦虑激素的释放，

which is why spending time with a loved one can feel so relaxing.

也就是为什么和爱的人 待在一起很让人放松。

As early love's suspension of judgment fades,

爱的初期盲目消散之时，

it can be replaced by a more honest understanding and deeper connection.

就会由更清晰的理解 和更坚实的联结取代。

Alternatively, as your rose-colored glasses begin to lose their tint,

换句话说， 你的粉红泡泡破掉的时候，

problems in your relationship may become more evident.

这段感情中的问题 就渐渐浮现了出来。

No matter the reason a relationship ends,

无论这段感情结束的原因是什么，

we can blame the pain that accompanies heartbreak on the brain.

我们可以把伴随心碎的痛苦 归咎于大脑。

The distress of a breakup activates the insular cortex,

分手的悲痛激活了岛叶皮层，

a region that processes pain—

该区域会处理痛苦信号——

both physical, like spraining your ankle,

可以是身体上的， 比如脚踝崴了，

as well as social, like the feelings of rejection.

也可以是交际上的， 比如被拒绝的感觉。

As days pass, you may find yourself once again daydreaming about

随着时间的推移， 你有可能会重燃

or craving contact with your lost partner.

对你前任的心心念念， 或者渴望重拾与他/她的联络。

The drive to reach out may feel overwhelming,

主动联系的欲望可能会 排山倒海地向你袭来，

like an extreme hunger or thirst.

就像极度饥饿或者口渴。

When looking at photos of a former partner,

看着前任的照片，

heartbroken individuals again show increased activity in the VTA,

心碎之人的 VTA 又活跃了起来，

the motivation and reward center that drove feelings of longing

激励和奖赏中心 点燃了感情初期的渴望。

during the initial stages of the relationship.

This emotional whirlwind also likely activates your body’s alarm system,

这场情感旋风也可能会 激活你身体的报警系统、

the stress axis, leaving you feeling shaken and restless.

你的应激轴， 让你感到坐立难安。

As time goes on,

过了一段时间，

higher cortical regions which oversee reasoning and impulse control,

控制理性和冲动的高级皮质区

can pump the brakes on this distress and craving signaling.

会缓和这份焦虑和渴望的心情。

Given that these regions are still maturing

这部分区域会在青春期 逐渐发育、建立联结，

and making connections through adolescence,

it's no wonder that first heartbreak can feel particularly agonizing.

所以第一次心碎 让人痛彻心扉也就不奇怪了。

Activities like exercise, spending time with friends,

进行一些活动，如锻炼身体、 和朋友玩耍，

or even listening to your favorite song

甚至是听你最喜欢的歌曲，

can tame this heartbreak stress response,

都可以缓解心碎带来的应激反应，

while also triggering the release of feel good neurotransmitter dopamine.

也可以释放更多的 快乐神经递质多巴胺。

And given time and the support,

时间和他人的支持可以

most can heal and learn from even the most devastating heartbreak.

抚平心碎的悲痛欲绝， 甚至可以有所收获。