With听Valentine鈥檚 Day fast approaching, CU 麻豆影院 experts are available to discuss the neuroscience of love, how it impacts our health, and the secret to writing a good love poem.听
The neurochemistry of love:听Zoe Donaldson, an assistant professor of behavioral neuroscience,听听the brain chemicals and biological processes responsible for enabling humans to form lasting bonds with others鈥攐r fall in love. Through observations of prairie voles, one of the few other monogamous mammal species, she and others have identified two key hormones at play: vasopressin and oxytocin. She can discuss how they work, and how understanding them better can help humans.听
Zoe.Donaldson@colorado.edu
Pain-killing properties of hand-holding:听Pavel Goldstein, a postdoctoral researcher with the Institute of Cognitive Science, studies 鈥渋nterpersonal synchronization鈥� or the way in which we physiologically mirror the people we are with. His听听has shown that holding hands with a loved one prompts our brain waves, breathing and heart rate to sync up with theirs and can also ease pain.听
Pavel.goldstein@colorado.edu
How the placebo-effect eases heartbreak:听Tor Wager, a professor of psychology and neuroscience, has听听that placebos鈥攕ham treatments with no active ingredients鈥攏ot only work to kill physical pain but can also kill emotional pain. The takeaway: Doing something that you believe will help heal your broken heart will probably help.
Tor.wager@colorado.edu听辞谤听leonie.koban@gmail.com
On writing a love poem:听Khadijah Queen,听assistant professor of English, can break down the basics behind writing the perfect love letter or poem. Her poetry and prose have appeared in,听听and more.听听
khadijah.queen@colorado.edu
Contact:
Lisa Marshall, CU 麻豆影院 media relations
303-492-3115