We use the word 'love' in a bewildering range of contexts -; from sexual adoration to parental love or the love of nature. Now, more comprehensive imaging of the brain may shed light on why we use the same word for such a diverse collection of human experiences. 'You see your newborn child for the first time.
The baby is soft, healthy and hearty -; your life's greatest wonder. You feel love for the little one.' The above statement was one of many simple scenarios presented to fifty-five parents, self-described as being in a loving relationship.
Researchers from Aalto University utilised functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to measure brain activity while subjects mulled brief stories related to six different types of love. 'We now provide a more comprehensive picture of the brain activity associated with different types of love than previous research,' says Pärttyli Rinne, the philosopher and researcher who coordinated the study. 'The activation pattern of love is generated in social situations in the basal ganglia, the midline of the forehead, the precuneus and the temporoparietal junction at the sides of the back of the head.
' Love for one's children generated the most intense brain activity, closely followed by romantic love. In parental love, there was activation deep in the brain's reward system in the striatum area while imagining love, and this was not seen for any other kind of love." Pärttyli Rinne, philosopher and researcher Love for romantic partners, f.