Helen Fisher PhD, a biological anthropologist, discusses three brain systems that evolved for mating and reproduction:  the sex drive; romantic love; and partner attachment.  She focuses on her brain scanning research (using fMRI) on romantic passion, rejection in love and love addiction.  Then, using her additional fMRI data and a questionnaire study (n=100,000), she briefly discusses four broad basic styles of thinking and behaving associated with four primary brain systems–the dopamine, serotonin, testosterone and estrogen systems—and the role these temperament dimensions play in mate choice and partnership compatibility.  (This is to be further explored in her workshop).  She concludes with discussion of some of the neural foundations of long-term partnership attachment and marital happiness and the future of relationships in the digital age—what she calls “slow love.”

Learning Objectives (Not approved for NBCC Credit)

Describe the three primary brain systems that orchestrate human mating and reproduction: Lust, Romantic Love; and Attachment—and how each can become a love addiction.

 

Explain about the brain physiology of romantic rejection and the stages of physiological/behavioral recovery from rejection.

 

Describe the major brain regions that become active in long-term happy partnerships and how to use these brain data to stimulate and maintain feelings of intense romance and deep attachment.