The science of falling in love - Shannon Odell

譯者: Lilian Chiu 審譯者: Helen Chang

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

愛情常被形容為暖心、 揪心，甚至痛心。

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

所以，大腦和它的關係是什麼？

Everything!

息息相關！

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

從最初的火花到 最後的眼淚，這段過程，

是由神經化學物質和大腦系統 所組成的交響樂來引導。

of neurochemicals and brain systems.

三月五日：

你不小心把我稱為蜜蜂， 我希望能持續下去。

〔團隊的力量！〕 〔耶呼！恭喜！〕

〔晚安，蜜蜂（Bee）〕 〔啊，打錯，是李（Lee）才對〕

〔哈哈，我喜歡！〕 〔晚安。〕

三月二十日：

上樓的時候你握住我的手， 我完全忘了階梯的存在。

As you begin to fall for someone,

當你開始愛上一個人，

you may find yourself excessively daydreaming about them

你可能會發現自己 過度對他們做白日夢，

and wanting to spend more and more time together.

且想要有更多時間和對方在一起。

This first stage of love is what psychologists call infatuation,

這是愛情的第一個階段， 心理學家稱之為痴迷期，

or passionate love.

或熱戀期。

Your new relationship can feel almost intoxicating,

這段新戀情感覺幾乎會讓你心醉，

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

就大腦來說，差不多真的是這樣。

Infatuated individuals show increased activation in the ventral tegmental area.

熱戀中的人，腦的 腹側被蓋區的活動會增加。

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

腹側被蓋區是大腦中 處理獎勵和動機的中心，

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

在下列情況都會產生放電： 當別人請你吃甜點時、

喝水解渴時，還有 更極端的例子是吸毒。

or in more extreme cases, take drugs of abuse.

Activation releases the “feel good” neurotransmitter dopamine,

啟動這個區域就會釋放多巴胺， 讓人「感覺良好」的神經傳遞質，

teaching your brain to repeat behaviors in anticipation

教導你的大腦，若重複這個行為，

就能預期得到和先前相同的獎勵。

of receiving the same initial reward.

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

因為腹側被蓋區的活動， 所以愛情不只讓人心情愉快，

but also draws you towards your new partner.

也會讓你被你的新伴侶吸引。

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

在這第一階段，可能很難看到 你的完美新伴侶有什麼缺點。

This haze is thanks to love’s influence

這種盲目要歸因於愛情對大腦 更高階的皮質區造成的影響。

on higher cortical brain regions.

Some newly infatuated individuals show decreased activity

有些剛陷入熱戀的人

大腦的認知中心前額葉皮質區 會出現活動下降的現象。

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

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

這個區域的作用在於讓我們能 進行做批判性思考及做出評斷，

and pass judgment,

it’s not surprising we tend to see new relationships

所以，並不意外，我們傾向會 用美化的濾鏡來看新的戀情。

through rose-colored glasses.

While this first stage of love can be

愛情的第一階段可能會像 情緒和腦部活動的雲霄飛車，

an intense rollercoaster of emotions and brain activity,

it typically only lasts a few months,

但通常只會持續幾個月，

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

接著會進入到愛情更持久的階段，

known as attachment, or compassionate love.

稱為依附期，或同情期。

六月十日：

你從來就找不到高音， 但我喜歡你的版本。

加油！蜜蜂！

As your relationship develops,

隨著戀情發展，你可能會覺得 更放鬆且對伴侶更投入，

you may feel more relaxed and committed to your partner

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

背後的主要功臣是兩種荷爾蒙：

催產素和抗利尿激素。

Known as pair-bonding hormones,

身為一般所知的「配對」荷爾蒙，

they signal trust, feelings of social support and attachment.

它們傳達的是信任、 社會支持感，以及依附。

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

在這方面，戀愛和其他 形式的愛沒什麼不一樣，

as these hormones also help bond families and friendships.

因為這些荷爾蒙 也協助連繫親情和友情。

Further, oxytocin can inhibit the release of stress hormones,

此外，催產素能抑制 壓力荷爾蒙的釋放，

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

這就是為什麼花時間 和愛人相處的感覺會很放鬆。

As early love's suspension of judgment fades,

在愛情初期暫時不會 做評斷的特性會漸漸消失，

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

取而代之的可能是 更誠實的了解和更深的連結。

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

或者，隨著你的美化濾鏡失去作用，

problems in your relationship may become more evident.

你這段戀情中的問題 會變得越來越明顯。

十月二十九日：

你哭的時候眼睛會變成綠色， 還是那是光線造成的？

No matter the reason a relationship ends,

不論戀情結束的理由為何，

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

伴隨心碎而來的痛苦， 都可以怪罪於大腦。

The distress of a breakup activates the insular cortex,

分手的悲痛會啟動腦島皮質，

a region that processes pain—

這個區域負責處理痛苦——

both physical, like spraining your ankle,

包括實體的痛苦，比如扭傷腳踝，

as well as social, like the feelings of rejection.

以及心理的痛苦， 比如被拒絕的感受。

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

隨時間過去，你會發現自己又開始

幻想著你失去的伴侶 或渴望與他／她聯絡。

or craving contact with your lost partner.

The drive to reach out may feel overwhelming,

想要去找對方的慾望 可能強到難以招架，

like an extreme hunger or thirst.

就像極度飢餓或口渴的感覺。

When looking at photos of a former partner,

看著前伴侶的照片，

heartbroken individuals again show increased activity in the VTA,

心碎者的腹側被蓋區 會再次有活動增加的現象，

the motivation and reward center that drove feelings of longing

它是動機和獎勵的中心，

在戀情的初期負責驅動渴望的感覺。

during the initial stages of the relationship.

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

這種情緒旋風也很可能會 啟動你身體的警報系統，

the stress axis, leaving you feeling shaken and restless.

即壓力軸，

讓你心煩意亂、焦躁不安。

As time goes on,

隨時間，負責管理推理 和衝動控制的更高階皮質區域

higher cortical regions which oversee reasoning and impulse control,

can pump the brakes on this distress and craving signaling.

能夠踩煞車，阻止悲痛 和渴望的訊號發送。

Given that these regions are still maturing

在青春期，這些區域都還在 成熟中且還在建立連結，

and making connections through adolescence,

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

也難怪第一次心碎感覺會特別痛苦。

十一月六日：清理我的房間。 十一月七日：睡懶覺。

十一月八日：讀書。

Activities like exercise, spending time with friends,

做些活動，比如運動、和朋友相處，

or even listening to your favorite song

或聽你最愛的歌曲，

can tame this heartbreak stress response,

能夠平撫這種心碎的壓力反應，

while also triggering the release of feel good neurotransmitter dopamine.

同時觸發多巴胺的釋放，它是 「感覺良好」的神經傳遞質。

And given time and the support,

只要有時間和支持，

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

大部分的人能從最難過的 心碎中復元並從中學習。

十二月三十一日： 該是做新計畫的時候了。