User:Pinkflamingo22/Biological basis of love

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Love and motivation

Love and Motivation
Conscious thoughts about a romantic partner activate brain regions related to reward and motivation. Ortigue et al. investigated whether unconscious priming by a partner's name could also affect motivation. They found that priming by either a beloved or a favorite hobby improved reaction times in identifying whether a string of letters was a word or not compared against priming by a neutral friend. The authors suggest this effect happens because a beloved's name "may call for a goal-directed state" and produce "dopaminergic-driven facilitation effects." '''Similarly, the love one feels for their friends may also be biologically motivated. Isern-Mas and Gomila argue that while the love we feel for our friends is not romantic, it is still motivated through feelings of moral obligations as well as changes in the brain resulting from prosocial experiences. The common motivation whether it be love romantically or through a non-intimate companion can be connected to positive feelings and rewards that in turn, form social bonds. As seen in other animals as well, the immediate connections between the love of a mother and their infant impacts their personality as they age. Harlow described love as a secondary drive for all animals, but it is essential for proper development. The animals that were left abandoned, had trouble socializing with others and often had personality issues as well.'''