Have you ever wondered why your brain struggles to differentiate between men that are the marrying kind or the love-you-and-leave type? New research undertaken by scientists at Rutgers University, New Jersey has uncovered why.
A major part of the study focused on scanning the female brain to monitor its response during an orgasm. They found that 30 different parts of the brain are activated when various parts of the body are aroused, including those responsible for emotion, touch, joy, satisfaction and memory.
They found that two minutes before orgasm the brain’s reward centres become active. These are the areas usually activated when eating food and drink. Other areas of the brain then become affected such as the sensory cortex, which receives ‘touch’ messages from parts of the body. The final part of the brain to be activated is the hypothalamus, the ‘control’ part which regulates temperature, hunger, thirst and tiredness.
A key hormone released during this time is oxytocin, also known as the ‘cuddle hormone’. According to sexual health specialist Dr Arun Ghosh, this lowers our defences and makes us trust people more.
Dr Ghosh says that this hormone is also key to bonding, as it increases levels of empathy: “Women produce more of this hormone, although it’s not clear why, and this means they are more likely to let their guard down and fall in love with a man after sex.”
“However, the problem is that the body can’t distinguish whether the person we’re with is a casual fling or marriage material — oxytocin is released either way, “ says Dr Ghosh. “So while it might help you bond with the love of your life, it’s also the reason you may feel so miserable when a short-term relationship ends.”
According to the study this can be an issue when compared with the hormonal response of men, who instead of getting a surge of bonding hormone receive a surge of simple pleasure.
“The problem is that when a man has an orgasm, the main hormone released is dopamine — the pleasure hormone, which is addictive.”
So while women are falling in love with their current squeeze post love-making, men are simply just wanting more.
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