Separation is not a step that all couples take, but researchers are tackling the issue to find out what makes separation from a partner so difficult.
A group of scientists from the University of Colorado in the United States of America have done an experiment on rodents that are known as monogamous (relationship with only one partner), in order to analyze the relationship between love and chemicals in the brain.
While partners or friends leave a "chemical imprint" on the brain, this condition almost disappears after a breakup, according to a new study. Scientists from this university analyzed the role of dopamine in the brain of rodents with neuroimaging technology, the results of which were published in the journal Current Biology.
One aspect of the study looked at the role of dopamine in the brain when partners were together. In another scenario, the rodents had to press a lever if they wanted to reach their partner from the other side of the fence. A fiber-optic sensor tracked activity in the part of the animal's brain, an area associated with breathing.
The sensor turns on when it detects dopamine, which is a neurotransmitter and hormone that plays a role in creating feelings of pleasure. The researchers found that when the rodents pushed the lever or climbed over the wall to be with their partners, the sensor lit up "like a buzzer".
The same thing happened when they sniffed or hugged each other. Conversely, the sensor dimmed when there were random rodents on the other side of the wall or door instead of the rodent's true partner.
This research shows that some people leave a unique chemical imprint on our brains that leads us to hold on to these connections longer over time. The researchers also looked at what happens after a long period of separation between the rodents. They kept the rodent partners apart for four weeks, before reuniting them.
They found that when the couple was back together, the dopamine surge almost disappeared. Researchers saw this as a potential signal to establish a new bond.
However, more research is needed to determine how this finding translates to people, but scientists think it could have the same approach for people going through a breakup or choosing to stay in a relationship longer.
Source: The Guardian
