中英文稿

我們常常把愛描述為暖心的、 令人心痛的，甚至是令人心碎的。?那大腦和它有什么關(guān)系呢？?息息相關(guān)！?從第一絲火花到最后一滴淚的旅程，?由神經(jīng)化學(xué)物質(zhì)和腦系統(tǒng)共同奏響。

你開始對某人動心的時候，?你會發(fā)現(xiàn)自己整天都在想他/她，?想和他/她待得更久一點。?愛的第一階段 被心理學(xué)家稱為“熱戀”，?或者激情之愛。?這段新的感情會讓你如癡如醉，?從大腦來看， 也差不多確實是這個情況。?熱戀中人們的中腦腹側(cè)被蓋區(qū) （VTA）會更加活躍。?VTA 是大腦中 處理獎賞和激勵的中樞，?會在你吃甜品、暢飲一番?或者更極端一點， 在你濫用藥物的時候興奮起來。?激活的過程會釋放神經(jīng)遞質(zhì)多巴胺， 讓你感到“好爽”，?訓(xùn)練你的大腦得出 重復(fù)這些行為?可以收獲同樣的獎勵的思維。?VTA 更活躍的活動 讓愛不僅令人愉悅，?也會讓你被你的新伴侶吸引。

第一階段，你可能很難看清 你那完美的新伴侶有什么缺點。?這團迷霧來源于 愛在大腦高級皮質(zhì)區(qū)產(chǎn)生的影響。?有些剛墜入愛河的人， 他們大腦的認(rèn)知中心，?即前額皮層， 出現(xiàn)了活躍性降低的現(xiàn)象。?由于這個區(qū)域的激活 可以讓我們辯證地思考，?做出判斷，?我們會透過粉紅泡泡 看待新感情也就不奇怪了。

雖然愛的第一階段?可能包括了情感的劇烈起伏 和大腦活動的風(fēng)云變幻，?但是通常只會持續(xù)幾個月，?然后會交接給下一個 更持久的愛的階段，?即依戀，或稱為“陪伴之愛”。

感情發(fā)生了進展，?你會更加放松、更加堅定地 對待你的伴侶，?這很大程度上來源于兩種荷爾蒙： 催產(chǎn)素和加壓素。?這兩種激素成對出現(xiàn)，?產(chǎn)生信任、 互相之間的支持和依賴感。?這樣，愛情就和其他形式的愛 并無二致，?因為這些荷爾蒙也會 促進親情和友情的聯(lián)結(jié)。?而且催產(chǎn)素也會抑制 焦慮激素的釋放，?也就是為什么和愛的人 待在一起很讓人放松。

愛的初期盲目消散之時，?就會由更清晰的理解 和更堅實的聯(lián)結(jié)取代。?換句話說， 你的粉紅泡泡破掉的時候，?這段感情中的問題 就漸漸浮現(xiàn)了出來。

無論這段感情結(jié)束的原因是什么，?我們可以把伴隨心碎的痛苦 歸咎于大腦。?分手的悲痛激活了島葉皮層，?該區(qū)域會處理痛苦信號——?可以是身體上的， 比如腳踝崴了，?也可以是交際上的， 比如被拒絕的感覺。?隨著時間的推移， 你有可能會重燃?對你前任的心心念念， 或者渴望重拾與他/她的聯(lián)絡(luò)。?主動聯(lián)系的欲望可能會 排山倒海地向你襲來，?就像極度饑餓或者口渴。?看著前任的照片，?心碎之人的 VTA 又活躍了起來，?激勵和獎賞中心 點燃了感情初期的渴望。?這場情感旋風(fēng)也可能會 激活你身體的報警系統(tǒng)、?你的應(yīng)激軸， 讓你感到坐立難安。

過了一段時間，?控制理性和沖動的高級皮質(zhì)區(qū)?會緩和這份焦慮和渴望的心情。?這部分區(qū)域會在青春期 逐漸發(fā)育、建立聯(lián)結(jié)，?所以第一次心碎 讓人痛徹心扉也就不奇怪了。

進行一些活動，如鍛煉身體、 和朋友玩耍，?甚至是聽你最喜歡的歌曲，?都可以緩解心碎帶來的應(yīng)激反應(yīng)，?也可以釋放更多的 快樂神經(jīng)遞質(zhì)多巴胺。?時間和他人的支持可以?撫平心碎的悲痛欲絕， 甚至可以有所收獲。

Love is often described as heartwarming, heart-wrenching and even heartbreaking.?So, what does the brain have to do with it??Everything!?The journey from first spark to last tear is guided by a symphony?of neurochemicals and brain systems.

As you begin to fall for someone,?you may find yourself excessively daydreaming about them?and wanting to spend more and more time together.?This first stage of love is what psychologists call infatuation,?or passionate love.?Your new relationship can feel almost intoxicating,?and when it comes to the brain, that’s not far from the truth.?Infatuated individuals show increased activation in the ventral tegmental area.?The VTA is the reward-processing and motivation hub of the brain,?firing when you do things like eat a sweet treat, quench your thirst,?or in more extreme cases, take drugs of abuse.?Activation releases the “feel good” neurotransmitter dopamine,?teaching your brain to repeat behaviors in anticipation?of receiving the same initial reward.?This increased VTA activity is the reason love's not only euphoric,?but also draws you towards your new partner.

At this first stage, it may be hard to see any faults in your new perfect partner.?This haze is thanks to love’s influence?on higher cortical brain regions.?Some newly infatuated individuals show decreased activity?in the brain’s cognitive center, the prefrontal cortex.?As activation of this region allows us to engage in critical thought?and pass judgment,?it’s not surprising we tend to see new relationships?through rose-colored glasses.

While this first stage of love can be?an intense rollercoaster of emotions and brain activity,?it typically only lasts a few months,?making way for the more long-lasting stage of love,?known as attachment, or compassionate love.

As your relationship develops,?you may feel more relaxed and committed to your partner?thanks in large part to two hormones: oxytocin and vasopressin.?Known as pair-bonding hormones,?they signal trust, feelings of social support and attachment.?In this way, romantic love is not unlike other forms of love,?as these hormones also help bond families and friendships.?Further, oxytocin can inhibit the release of stress hormones,?which is why spending time with a loved one can feel so relaxing.

As early love's suspension of judgment fades,?it can be replaced by a more honest understanding and deeper connection.?Alternatively, as your rose-colored glasses begin to lose their tint,?problems in your relationship may become more evident.

No matter the reason a relationship ends,?we can blame the pain that accompanies heartbreak on the brain.?The distress of a breakup activates the insular cortex,?a region that processes pain—?both physical, like spraining your ankle,?as well as social, like the feelings of rejection.?As days pass, you may find yourself once again daydreaming about?or craving contact with your lost partner.?The drive to reach out may feel overwhelming,?like an extreme hunger or thirst.?When looking at photos of a former partner,?heartbroken individuals again show increased activity in the VTA,?the motivation and reward center that drove feelings of longing?during the initial stages of the relationship.?This emotional whirlwind also likely activates your body’s alarm system,?the stress axis, leaving you feeling shaken and restless.

As time goes on,?higher cortical regions which oversee reasoning and impulse control,?can pump the brakes on this distress and craving signaling.?Given that these regions are still maturing?and making connections through adolescence,?it's no wonder that first heartbreak can feel particularly agonizing.

Activities like exercise, spending time with friends,?or even listening to your favorite song?can tame this heartbreak stress response,?while also triggering the release of feel good neurotransmitter dopamine.?And given time and the support,?most can heal and learn from even the most devastating heartbreak.

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