When you’re receiving a gift, your brain releases oxytocin, which gives you warm, fuzzy feelings. While huge celebrations may not be possible every day, you can buy treats for yourself to make every day special and get that warm, cuddly feeling. Even on the busiest of days, these pleasures can allow you to indulge in a little luxury and take time for yourself.
To be the apple of one’s eye. To have butterflies in your stomach. To fall head over heels. These are just some ways of saying we are falling in love. A feeling so overwhelming that it makes our hearts beat faster and our palms sweatier. And as much as we think that love is something that’s happening in our hearts, actually — it’s happening in our brains. Here’s Sarah. We’ll follow her around to get a closer look into the science of love in our brains. Not stalking, just following...
Love is an open door! All you need is love! Can’t help falling in love with you! I bet you’ve all heard these songs before! The main idea behind them is the same; it’s that love is the greatest feeling of them all — even though sometimes it might break your heart. But you know what? Love has actually nothing to do with the heart but everything to do with the brain! So, join me as I explore the science behind this feeling which makes people write songs, paint masterpieces, and do all sorts of crazy things!
We all have certain things that help us to decide the attractiveness of a potential date — but this is one we may all have in common. A study looked into the impact owning a pet has on the dating lives of men and women. Many women agreed that a pet makes a man more attractive — but how much more attractive depended on the type of pet he had.At Bright Side, we were interested in this phenomenon, so we decided to look into why women find men with pets more attractive and which pets are the most attractive in a man. We want to share our findings with you, so read on to find these out.
Usually, many of us prefer to have our toddlers just within reach to assure their safety. And children like this experience for comfort and security. There are many cultures where it’s completely okay to co-sleep with your kids. Though it’s not the same in all Western countries. Anyway, if you need any validation, scientists have a lot of good news to share here too.
Our dogs help us to manage stress and significantly lower its levels. And they have quite a calming effect, even if we just scroll through funny pics on the internet. It simply increases levels of oxytocin (hormone of joy) and reduces cortisol, which makes us feel more relaxed. So every time you have any doubts about whether to read another article about our beloved canine friends, please don’t. Just relax and have a great time.
Even a simple hug can be life-saving. Well, maybe not completely, but at least it has multiple benefits for our health. It’s hard to disagree since all of them are backed by science. So next time someone is hugging you, make it last a bit longer to absorb all the benefits better.
The “baby schema” effect says a release of the chemicals dopamine and oxytocin is triggered in the brain when humans look at puppies. The same concoction of chemicals is released when we look at babies and when we fall in love. Well, we’re not limiting ourselves to these categories of images, but we got our brains brewing and think we have the perfect combination of feel-good pictures to boost your mood and give you a reason to smile. Bright Side presents 15 people that managed to make a slightly above-average day into an unforgettable one.
Although maintaining a fulfilling relationship sometimes calls for hard work, all of us strive to enjoy the blissful moments that love has to offer. According to science, being in love may be extremely rewarding — not only emotionally, but also physically. It has the ability to alleviate stress, reduce pain, heal wounds, and a plethora of other unexpected “side effects.”
Loving someone and falling in love can make us experience a ton of contrasting feelings that are often too complex to put into words. That’s where the ’’biology of love’’ can come in handy to help us understand why we feel the way we do. American anthropologist and researcher in the field of romantic relationships, Helen Fisher, has come up with an interesting theory based on the belief that not all love is experienced equally and that romantic love can be broken down into 3 different types.
We inherit our eye color, body shape, and blood type from our parents. Our genes control our physical traits, but, surprisingly, they can also lead us in our behavior. For example, we all used to believe that if a couple gets divorced, it’s all because of their psychology, or the chemistry between them is gone. But recent studies have unveiled a shocking truth: divorce may be in our genes.
Since the 1970s there has been a significant increase in divorce rates globally. It is of no surprise, then, that researchers do their best to find causes that might lead to separation. Some of them also study the factors that can make a marriage more successful and harmonious, usually taking into account the age and education level of the couples.
Many families may have a story of a baby that was born minutes after their parents’ heroic drive to the hospital in the middle of the night. Based on these stories, it’s easy to imagine that babies decide to see the world when we’re the least prepared, that is, at night.
According to American research, pets can lower blood pressure, reduce stress, raise blood oxytocin levels, and, in some cases, may even reduce direct pain. And while we usually believe that kids and pets have an unbreakable connection, we tend to forget the incredible amount of love and affection between dads and the “family pet.”
We sit down in front of screens to watch awkward moments and stories of people who fight until they realize they love one another. We hold our breath when couples finally run into each other’s arms. Stories are one of the most powerful forms of communication we know.
One survey found that 1 in 4 married couples sleep in different beds. And it’s not always because the spark is gone. Sometimes, poor sleep quality due to different bedtime habits or schedules can be the culprit. But great minds have found that sharing the bed with your sweetheart — despite the loud snores and the never-ending battle for the blanket — might actually make you healthier and happier.
Pregnancy and childbirth bring about a lot of physical and psychological changes in the new mother’s body, but it turns out that men can experience a wide spectrum of bodily and mental changes when becoming dads too. A hormonal and emotional roller coaster, a strong affection for the new baby, anxiety, and depression, and even pregnancy symptoms — it may sound unbelievable, but this is what many men go through when their kids are born.
Crying might not be our favorite pastime, but if we just let it out from time to time, we can actually get more benefits from it than we would by just holding it in. By shedding a few tears, we won’t be showing our weaker side — we are actually helping our eyes and the rest of our body in many different ways. In fact, in some situations, it can even help us fall asleep faster.
While improving a baby’s health, massage can also boost development and help to create a strong bond between the baby and their caregiver. You don’t need any special equipment. Just a few simple techniques, some free time, and love will do the job!
Recent research conducted in Australia revealed that one in 5 people sing in the shower and some believe they’re good enough to win a reality TV singing competition. No matter what your vocal talents are like, there’s something about singing while bathing that can make you feel happier.
False labor can start if you are tired and dehydrated and you might not have a period the entire time you are breastfeeding. It’s better to be prepared for these things in advance to avoid any stressful situations in the future and provide your baby with the best overall experience.
A hug a day keeps the doctor away! There’s no doubt that hugging makes us feel good, however, apart from that, this process brings many other benefits, especially when it comes to child development. Let’s dive into the science of hugs and learn what other positive things they bring to our lives.
Since the dawn of time, people have been arguing about who loves their owners more — cats or dogs. But neurobiologists put this question to rest several years ago. They analyzed the saliva examples of 20 pets that had been taken before they played with their owners for 10 minutes and after they played with their owners for 10 minutes. It turned out that dogs had a 57% increase in oxytocin, the love hormone, after they played together with their humans, while cats showed only a 12% increase. But still, it’s an indisputable truth that all these animals have love for their owners.
According to a survey, more than half of couples that have been dating for 2-5 years say, “I love you” every day. But as the relationship reaches 10+ years, that number drops to 33% and keeps going down as time passes. However, there are many reasons to change this habit and we’re here to tell you why.
Hugging someone for 20 seconds reduces stress, keeps your blood pressure in check, and ensures your heart stays healthy. Simply put, hugs boost the production of the “love hormone” oxytocin in your body, so all you feel is love and warmth.
Too many women feel guilty about breastfeeding or, on the contrary, feel a lot of pressure to do it without any difficulty. People may comment that the baby is too old to still be breastfeeding, or that a woman isn’t maternal enough because she didn’t breastfeed her baby. But many celebrities are challenging these prejudices by making and defending their own breastfeeding decisions. They do it because they can, because they want to, and because they know that, with their example and influence, they can support and inspire all women to do the same.
Mood and hormonal swings, stress, and dozens of unexpected body changes — this is what pregnancy and childbirth bring to a woman’s life. It is believed that fathers remain unaffected, because they don’t carry babies, and they don’t give birth. Recent studies showed, however, that men also experience hormonal, neurological, and behavioral changes when they welcome their newborn kids into their lives.
Just admit it, a great kiss is priceless. Researchers believe that kissing has many more benefits than just romantic pleasure and can pose many health advantages from keeping your skin in good condition to getting you in good shape.
Stories like Hachi: A Dog’s Tale, or The Notebook, have caused many to grab the tissue box at least once. However, a lot of people believe that crying during movies is nothing but a sign of weakness. Well, guess what, that thought couldn’t be more wrong! Paul J. Zak, a neuroeconomist at Claremont Graduate University, conducted a study in which he affirms that those who cry during movies are more empathetic, they know how to handle their emotions better, and they are stronger when facing daily challenges.
Dogs have emotions that are similar to ours. According to a study, dogs have oxytocin, i.e. “the love hormone”, which is what humans have. In other words, they express compassion, attachment, devotion, and care just like people do — maybe even more so! And some people are lucky enough to capture this expression of love on camera!
A woman’s life changes drastically after childbirth because she has to bear responsibility both for herself and her baby. Big changes occur in a young mother’s body — scientists claim that she becomes a chimera since the cells of a newborn baby can stay with her for the rest of her life.
We already know about the incredible endurance of women’s bodies and have heard something about the difference between men and women’s color recognition. But, believe it or not, there’s still a lot about the female body you may not know about.
