Emotions and Attraction By Torin Hester and Rachel Ball

Emotions An emotion is.. A mental and physiological state associated with a wide variety of feelings, thoughts, and behavior Any strong feeling But where do emotions come from? How are they made? How do we experience them?

Where They Come From Although many theories as to how emotions come to be exist, we know that they take place in the limbic system. This system deals with other elements concerning regulation of memories, "fight or flight" reactions and motivations, but most importantly it concerns emotions. The parts of the limbic system that contribute to this are the Amygdala (a small almond shaped structure) and the Hippocampus (a tiny seahorse-shaped structure). The amygdala connects with the hippocampus, as well as the Thalamus. This connection between these three parts of the brain allow it to control and regulate emotions, such as anger, love and affection. It also helps to maintain major things such as friendships and relationships as well as the expression of moods (ex: crying, laughter, etc.) Below this is the Hypothalamus, which sends instructions to the rest of the body.

Amygdala and Hippocampus - Causes reaction to emotions, situations etc EX: Happiness=Smile, Laughter - Monitors amount of emotions. EX: Keeps you from over reacting Hippocampus - Appears to be very important in converting things that are “in your mind” at the moment (in short-term memory) into things that you will remember for the long run (long-term memory). - Commits feelings aroused from situations to memory.

Thalamus and Hypothalamus - Makes sure your facial expressions and body languages matches your mood/feeling Hypothalamus - Where “chemicals” called peptides are made for moods/feelings

How do Emotions Come To Be? Although we aren't exactly sure the entire science behind how emotions are "made" we do know a few things. We know that when our bodies experience a feeling, the hypothalamus makes a chemical for that specific emotion. These chemicals are called peptides (small chained amino acid sequences). So when you feel sad, your brain makes peptides for that specific feeling. When hundreds and thousands of these are made, they are assembled into smaller chains called nueropetides, or neurohormones and then are sent out to the blood stream. The hypothalamus memorizes the format of the peptides so it will recognize the feeling the next time it occurs. For example, the feelings that you experience on a daily basis (happiness, stress, etc.) have had their peptide formation "drilled in your brain". On every cell in your body is something called a receptor. These take in things to the cell, like water, oxygen and nutrients.. When peptides make it to a receptor of a cell, they then lock in with it. Think of this process much like how a key would slip into a lock. After this happens through out the body, you begin to completely experience the emotion.

Well, I guess "completely" wouldn't be the right word Well, I guess "completely" wouldn't be the right word. These peptides also must go through the Amygdala to monitor the amount of the emotion so to say. For example, if your cat dies, the amygdala won't send out enough peptides to the receptors to make you want to commit suicide. Instead you'll just be kindly upset. The amygdala helps to keep you from over-experiencing certain emotions.

In the thalamus during this process, peptides are sent to here where they are read. After doing so, the thalamus determines whether or not your facial expressions and body language match the feeling. If the emotion is happy, you'll generate laughter. If the emotion is sad, you'll generate tears. It also helps to make sure you don't crack up and smile uncontrollably when you should be scared, for instance if a bear was preparing to attack you. The thalamus makes sure you match what you're feeling. The hippocampus comes in to play by committing to memory the feelings, and what you associate with them. For example, if you were ever in a bad relationship, then instead of remembering love as something full of happiness, you may recall it as hurtful or upsetting. This affects emotions because of the way things have been registered in your mind. If your brain remembers how a situation made you feel, it will bring up that feeling when that situation is brought up again, until you rewrite the situation. If you were once attacked by a dog, you associate dogs with fear, unless you get a dog and it changes your perspective on it. Now instead of putting dogs and the emotion of fear together you may put dogs with the emotion of happiness together.

The Basics of Attraction “The ideal face of an attractive woman, according to experiments with men, has high cheek bones, big eyes and a thin jaw.” People are subconsciously wired to be attracted to people with symmetrical and proportional features, which makes them appear healthy and free from disease. Even if you aren’t flirting with the intention of having children with that special someone, your brain and optical nerve are working together to decide if your crush has traits that would do well passed on to offspring. http://www.viewzone.com/attractive.female.jpg

Some Parts of the Brain Involved The FUSIFORM, located in the back of the head near the spine. It is the same neural pathway used to recognize other people, and damaged fusiforms render people unable to recognize anyone or determine beauty. GnRH NEURONS, responsible for sexual behaviors and control of the pituitary gland, which controls puberty and hormones.

Some Parts of the Brain Involved (continued) The HYPOTHALAMUS also releases of hormones including PEA (Phenylethylamine), commonly called the “molecule of love” which emits feelings of euphoria and gives the feeling of “falling in love.” The hypothalamus also releases DOPAMINE, which makes you more talkative to a potential significant other, and makes you focus your attention on them. SEROTONIN is another hormone that controls mood, and is the culprit of violent behavior. OXYCOTIN is being studied for it’s possibility to influence bonding in adults. Female prairie voles deprived of oxycotin will not bond to males, while ones exposed to it will bond to a specific male.

Pheromones Pheromones are debated to exist in humans, and are used to express health and to attract the opposite sex. Androstenone was discovered at the Chemical Senses Center in Philadelphia, and their partners in France and is the pheromone given off by men. It is found in men’s sweat. It’s even possible to buy colognes and soaps with pheromones in them. The Vemeronasal Organ (VNO) in the nose is formed specifically to detect pheromones. Androstenone makes men more attractive to women and more dominant over other men. Pheromones are detected unconsciously in humans. They have no smell and are invisible. http://www.parrant.co.uk/myadoption/pictures/pheromones%20and%20odours1.gif

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