The racing heart and sweaty palms of a new romance are well-known symptoms of falling in love, but mental health experts say the most profound changes are happening in the brain — specifically, the parts responsible for spotting red flags.
With Valentine’s Day approaching, experts at Hackensack Meridian Health note that brain scans reveal that the “euphoria” of early love isn’t just a feeling but a chemical takeover that suppresses the neural pathways used for critical judgment.
“When we’re falling in love, the brain actually quiets the wiring responsible for negative emotions and making critical judgments,” says Dr Gary Small, director of Behavioural Health Breakthrough Therapies. “The part of your brain that you use to assess other people, potentially seeing red flags, essentially takes a break.”
With Valentine’s Day approaching, experts at Hackensack Meridian Health note that brain scans reveal that the “euphoria” of early love isn’t just a feeling but a chemical takeover that suppresses the neural pathways used for critical judgment.
“When we’re falling in love, the brain actually quiets the wiring responsible for negative emotions and making critical judgments,” says Dr Gary Small, director of Behavioural Health Breakthrough Therapies. “The part of your brain that you use to assess other people, potentially seeing red flags, essentially takes a break.”