NEW TRUE CHEMICAL ROMANCE STORIES
Today, we are taking a look at new findings in the chemistry of love. We check out animal love, which of course it isn’t the same as human love, but with fascinating science and insights for us all. We survey some new books that look at cross-species love, the chemistry of human relationships and more. There’s lots to love here, so let’s dive in!
Photo: Courtesy of Nature. Ringtailed Lemurs from Love in the Animal Kingdom.
LOVE IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM
Love in the Animal Kingdom is a recent series, produced for PBS, about the love life of animals. With fascinating and extraordinarily beautiful footage of animals as they dance, sing, flirt, and compete for love.
The nature of love helps to determine the survival of each species. There are examples of bonding and monogamy in creatures great and small. And there are examples of “free for alls.” Blue-footed boobies play the field for life. While emperor penguins mate for life.
Photo: Courtesy of Nature. European Wolves from Love in the Animal Kingdom.
The ways animals court also influence the way the rest of their relationship will play out. Gorillas flirt. All the girls are hot for the silverback (dominant male). They’ll try to tease, gaze into his eyes, and make him jealous -- anything to be with him. The jealousy trick is a home run.
Photo: Courtesy of Nature. Mountain Gorillas from Love in the Animal Kingdom.
The girls don’t mind sharing him with each other. That’s because he offers the best sex, the best genes to contribute, and the best protection for them all…. far better than any other males for miles.
Photo: Courtesy of Nature. Flamingos from Love in the Animal Kingdom.
Thousands come together at an annual flamingo ball on Lake Borgoria in Tanzania. They all dance and check each other’s swagger. They’re looking for bright feathers and coordinated moves. Flamingoes are fussy abouts who they mate with. They have to be. They’ll be together for the rest of their lives.
Though Love in the Animal Kingdom is no longer available to watch online, you can still check out clips on certain animals like this one featuring gorillas mating and this one featuring ring tailed lemur lovers. The whole show is available for purchase here. And you can check out more about Nature’s Love in the Animal Kingdom at Nature.
Photo: Courtesy of Bloomberg. Prairie Voles.
GENE SWITCH MAKES VOLES FALL IN LOVE
“It’s all about chemistry” might be more true than anyone ever realized about love. Chemistry ignites love. And love changes your brain chemistry.
According to new research published in Nature Neuroscience, researchers have found, for the first time, that when prarie voles (Microtus ochrogaster) mate, permanent chemical modifcations in their chromosomes influence their subsequent sexual and bonding behaviors.
Photo: Todd Ahern. Prairie Voles
Epigenetic changes affect neurotransmitters that lead to pair-bond formation.
Prairie voles form monogamous pair bonds — they mate for life. They co-parent. They share housework duties. And they don’t cheat. We humans might stand to learn a lot from them! :)
Previous studies have shown that the neurotransmitters oxytocin and vasopressin work in many species, including humans, to keep pairs paired. We now know that mated prairie voles have higher levels of receptors for these neurotransmitters than their bachelor/bachelorette friends do. And prairie voles have more of these receptors than do voles of other species.
Photo: Dr. Lloyd Glenn Ingles. Montane Vole
In fact, the study showed that when otherwise promiscuous montane voles (M. montanus) are dosed with oxytocin and vasopressin, they become monogamous.
For the prairie voles, it appears as though epigenetic factors, or, in this case, behavior that appears to change the gene expression, while there is no change to the underlying DNA.
Neuroscientist Mohamed Kabbaj and his team at Florida State University in Tallahassee also found that they could “switch” on the monogamy button in voles by stimulating their “love” hormone receptors with drugs.
Read more about it in Nature.
Image: Courtesy of Little, Brown, and Company. Love Sense.
LOVE SENSE: THE REVOLUTIONARY NEW SCIENCE OF ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS
We were meant for each other! It’s true!
“Love Sense: The Revolutionary New Science of Romantic Relationships,” by Sue Johnson, presents new scientific evidence that tells us that humans are meant to mate for life.
Dr. Johnson explains that love is a recipe for survival. Why is it so hard then? Maybe, like everything else, to weed out the weak.
The biology, neuroscience, clinical psychology, and chemistry of love are all considered. Find out about the "cuddle hormone." and the "molecule of monogamy."
Love Sense covers the arc of the love story. It gets into the the intelligence of emotions, the logic of love. Good sex appears to come more from loving connections rather than the other way around.
Turns out, love actually delivers far more benefits than anyone ever realized. Thanks, Science!
Little, Brown and Company (2013)
Image: Courtesy of Penguin Books. Joy, Guilt, Anger and Love.
JOY, GUILT, ANGER, LOVE: WHAT NEUROSCIENCE CAN -- & CAN’T TELL US ABOUT HOW WE FEEL.
“Joy, Guilt, Anger, Love: What Neuroscience Can and Can't Tell Us About How We Feel,” by Giovanni Frazzetto, explains a lot, but still can’t explain it all. No one can.
Why do you feel the way you do? Why do you feel happiness while I feel lonliness when we are together? Why does she feel anxious while he feels excitement? Why is only one of them moved as they both stand in front of the same painting?
Frazzetto shares cutting-edge scientific research, along with personal stories, that broaden our insights into our emotions.
“[An] intriguing book . . . . An enjoyable illumination of ‘that most private and shadowy territory, our emotions.”
—Kirkus Reviews
Penguin Books (2014)
Image: Courtesy of Amazon Publishing. How Dogs Love Us.
HOW DOGS LOVE US: A NEUROSCIENTIST AND HIS ADOPTED DOG DECODE THE CANINE BRAIN
“How Dogs Love Us: A Neuroscientist and His Adopted Dog Decode the Canine Brain,” by Gregory Berns, takes a cross-species dive into the hows and whys of love.
Do dogs love us the way we love them? Armed with an MRI scanner, with Camille, the family dog, by his side, Berns set out to find out.
Getting a dog to sit still in an MRI machine is no mean feat. But Berns and Camille were patient with each other enough to make it happen.
While some of the findings are surprising, some offer evidence that supports what dog lovers have long believed -- that dogs should be treated as we would treat our best human friends: with love, respect, and appreciation for their social and emotional intelligence.
Amazon Publishing (2013)
Image: Courtesy of Workman Publishing Company. Unlikely Loves.
UNLIKELY LOVES: 43 HEARTWARMING TRUE STORIES FROM THE ANIMAL KINGDOM
“Unlikely Loves: 43 Heartwarming True Stories from the Animal Kingdom,” by Jennifer S. Holland, the sequel to a Unlikely Friendships, runaway New York Times bestseller, is full of beautiful, breathtaking full-color photographs of cross-species love.
There are stories that cross generations as well, like an adult Dalmation who mothers a newborn black and white spotted lamb. There are stories about playmates, like a certain fox and hound duo. And, check out the elephant who hangs with sea lions, goats, and others as she journeys through life at the Oregon zoo.
The stories and the photos are astonishingly beautiful. With inspiration and lessons for us all.
Workman Publishing Company (2013)
Image: Courtesy of McClelland & Stewart. The Untamed Garden.
THE UNTAMED GARDEN: A REVEALING LOOK AT OUR LOVE AFFAIR WITH PLANTS
“The Untamed Garden: A Revealing Look at Our Love Affair with Plants,” by Sonia Day, makes a great gift for someone you love -- even if they are not avid gardeners.
Master gardener Sonia Day strolls through myth, history, botany, and plant lore, observing the effect plants have had on humans.
While The Botany of Desire
Each chapter marks the arc of a love affair: “Innocence," "Flirtation," "Seduction," "Lust," "Deception," and "Rapture." The pages are filled with lovely love potions, snippets of the "language of flowers," and personal anecdotes.
The Untamed Garden is beautifully designed, with full-color photos and illustrations throughout.
"You don't have to be a gardener, expert or otherwise, to delight in The Untamed Garden. . . Fascinating and alluring. . . . Forget the chocolates and the wilted hothouse flowers. . . . Give this charming, fiery and joyous book of floral lore to your beloved instead." -- Halifax Chronicle Herald
"Delightfully lusty. . . . A must-read." -- National Post
"Beautifully printed and illustrated, making it perfect for the bedside table in anyone's boudoir. . . . It's an entertaining and informative read any time of year." --Ottawa Citizen
McClelland & Stewart (2013)
Photo: Courtesy of Miui.
Read more about Beautiful Love, it relates to Arts/Design, Nature/Science, Food/Drink, Place/Time, Mind/Body, and Soul/Impact in our posts throughout this week, including 10 New Beautiful Books on Love.
Enter this week’s BN Competition. Our theme this week is Beautiful Love. Send in your images and ideas. Deadline is 02.16.14.
