ABSTRACT
Romantic attraction is an emotional response toward a potential partner, with cognitive, affective, and motivational components. A series of events occur as a result of neurobiological consequences such as lust, attraction, and attachment due to the release of neurotransmitters. The phase of attraction is a result of the release of adrenaline, noradrenaline, dopamine, phenylethylamine, serotonin, dopamine, testosterone, and nerve growth factor. The effects of these neurotransmitters are carried out by the release of oxytocin, along with vasopressin and endorphins. Occasionally, attraction may also result in mood swings and bipolar disorder, characterized by the augmented working of the norepinephrine, as well as the dopaminergic systems. The activity of phenylethylamine – a trace neurotransmitter – has also been recognized to be similar in action to that of amphetamine. This chapter emphasizes the neurobiological processes which coordinate the behavioral, cognitive, and emotional processes that shape romantic attraction in human beings.
