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2.14.2012

Love is a Drug, But I'd Rather Have Whippets.

No, not the aerosol from whip cream cans, the Canadian snack cookie.In honor of Singles Awareness Day, or what some people term "Valentine's Day," I thought I'd post something about the topic.

Anyway, researchers at SUNY Stonybrook threw some people in a scanner and found that when shown pictures of their significant others, they elicited similar brain activation patterns as drug addicts craving their fix. 

Oh, and Oxytocin, the neurochemical that is associated with feelings of intimacy and love? Yeah, apparently it's also responsible for your attitudes toward "outgroups" in your world. So essentially, love makes you act like a racist heroin addict. 

Enjoy that sentiment lovebirds.

This post originally appeared on Stuff Smart People Like. Subscribe to the Podcast.

3 comments:

  1. Aha! I knew that the news of your death was greatly exaggerated. Glad to know you are alive and ornery as ever.

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  2. Continuing with Twain quotes

    "I have been complimented many times and they always embarrass me; I always feel that they have not said enough."

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  3. A little dense for me, but you neuro people might like it: http://theness.com/neurologicablog/index.php/love-is-in-the-brain/

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