Monday, February 14, 2011

Helen Fisher - This is Your Brain on Love: Why Him? Why Her?

In honor of Valentine's Day, this is an excellent talk on the neuroanthropology of love and attraction - this comes via Channel N from Psych Central. Helen Fisher's books are Why Him? Why Her?: Finding Real Love By Understanding Your Personality Type, Why We Love: The Nature and Chemistry of Romantic Love, and Anatomy of Love: A Natural History of Mating, Marriage, and Why We Stray.

One of the cool facts she mentions is that a "hookup" is seldom just a hookup, at least as far as our brains are concerned. In fact, 50% of women and, yes, 52% of men want something more with that person.

This is Your Brain on Love: Why Him? Why Her?

The brain’s reward systems and neurobiological changes in the brain during romantic love, as studied by neuroanthropologist Helen Fisher. Fisher gives an entertaining talk outlining her research, her online dating site and personality types, and how people create their own “love maps” while biology plays a big role behind the poetry. Great talk and Q&A, archived as part of WGBH’s special Romance & The Brain series. Participate in Fisher’s research online here.

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