Love, often associated with the heart, has a more complex origin in the brain, according to new research. Scientists have pinpointed specific brain regions activated by various forms of love using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). This research was published in the journal Cerebral Cortex.
The study reveals that different types of love—whether romantic, parental, or platonic—trigger varying levels of activity in similar brain areas. Researchers used fMRI to observe brain responses as participants reflected on different love scenarios.
Pärttyli Rinne, a philosopher and researcher at Aalto University in Finland and a co-author of the study, explained, “Our findings offer a detailed view of how the brain responds to different kinds of love. Love-related brain activity is centered in the basal ganglia, the midline of the forehead, the precuneus, and the temporoparietal junction.”
The research explored various love experiences, including parental love, romantic love, and affection for animals or nature. Participants were asked to imagine scenarios like seeing their newborn child for the first time and feeling overwhelming love.
The study found that parental love produced the strongest brain activity, followed by romantic love. Despite varying intensities, most love types activated similar brain regions, though some differences were noted.
“In cases of parental love, we observed notable activation in the striatum, a deep brain area linked to the reward system, which was not seen with other types of love,” Rinne said.
The study also investigated brain responses to friendships, affection for pets, and nature. It was found that love for nature predominantly activated the brain’s reward system, while social aspects of love lit up areas related to social cognition.
Additionally, brain responses to discussions about pets revealed whether participants owned pets. “For pet owners, brain regions associated with social interaction showed greater activation compared to those who do not own pets,” Rinne noted.
While studying the brain’s role in love may seem impersonal, the researchers believe their findings could help improve treatments for attachment disorders, depression, and relationship challenges.
