Love is often described as heartwarming, heart-wrenching, or even heartbreaking— and your brain is responsible for all these feelings. The journey from first spark to the last tear is guided by a symphony of neurochemicals and brain systems. Shannon Odell explores what happens in your brain when you fall in love, how it responds to a relationship, and how it reacts to a breakup. [Directed by Biljana Labović, narrated by Alexandra Panzer, music by Samuel Bellingham].

Shannon Odell: The science of falling in love

The science of falling in love

The brain's ventral tegmental area, pulsing with dopamine, fuels the euphoria in love's infancy, making new romance nearly intoxicating.

Oxytocin and vasopressin, the duo of pair-bonding hormones, calm the initial storm, nurturing long-term commitment and mutual understanding.

Love ignites through a brain symphony of dopamine, progressing to oxytocin-led attachment, then stress and recovery post-breakup.