【TED演讲】爱情背后的科学

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Love is often described as heartwarming, heart-wrenching and even heartbreaking.

我们常常把爱描述为暖心的、令人心痛的，甚至是令人心碎的。

So, what does the brain have to do with it?

那大脑和它有什么关系呢？

Everything!

息息相关！

The journey from first spark to last tear is guided by a symphony of neurochemicals and brain systems.

从第一丝火花到最后一滴泪的旅程，由神经化学物质和脑系统共同奏响。

As you begin to fall for someone, you may find yourself excessively daydreaming about them and wanting to spend more and more time together.

当你开始爱上某人时，你可能会发现自己整天都在想那个人，想要和那个人更久地待在一起。

This first stage of love is what psychologists call infatuation, or passionate love.

爱的第一阶段被心理学家称为“热恋”，或者激情之爱。

Your new relationship can feel almost intoxicating, and when it comes to the brain, that's not far from the truth.

这段新的感情会让你如痴如醉，从大脑来看，也差不多确实是这个情况。

Infatuated individuals show increased activation in the ventral tegmental area.

热恋中人们的中脑腹侧被盖区（VTA）会更加活跃。

The VTA is the reward-processing and motivation hub of the brain, firing when you do things like eat a sweet treat, quench your thirst,

VTA是大脑中处理奖赏和激励的中枢，会在你吃甜品、畅饮一番，

or in more extreme cases, take drugs of abuse.

或者更极端一点，在你滥用药物的时候兴奋起来。

Activation releases the "feel good" neurotransmitter dopamine,

激活的过程会释放神经递质多巴胺，让你感到“好爽”，

teaching your brain to repeat behaviors in anticipation of receiving the same initial reward.

训练你的大脑，得出重复这些行为可以收获同样的奖励的思维。

This increased VTA activity is the reason love's not only euphoric, but also draws you towards your new partner.

VTA更活跃的活动让爱不仅令人愉悦，也会让你被你的新伴侣吸引。

At this first stage, it may be hard to see any faults in your new perfect partner.

第一阶段，你可能很难看清你那完美的新伴侣有什么缺点。

This haze is thanks to love's influence on higher cortical brain regions.

这团迷雾来源于爱在大脑高级皮质区产生的影响。

Some newly infatuated individuals show decreased activity in the brain's cognitive center, the prefrontal cortex.

对于有些刚坠入爱河的人，他们大脑的认知中心，即前额皮层，出现了活跃性降低的现象。

As activation of this region allows us to engage in critical thought and pass judgment,

由于这个区域的激活可以让我们辩证地思考，做出判断，

it's not surprising we tend to see new relationships through rose-colored glasses.

我们会透过粉红泡泡看待新感情也就不奇怪了。

While this first stage of love can be an intense rollercoaster of emotions and brain activity, it typically only lasts a few months,

虽然爱的第一阶段可能包括了情感的剧烈起伏和大脑活动的风云变幻，但是通常只会持续几个月，

making way for the more long-lasting stage of love, known as attachment, or compassionate love.

接下来是下一个更持久的爱的阶段，即依恋，或称为“陪伴之爱”。

As your relationship develops, you may feel more relaxed and committed to your partner thanks in large part to two hormones:

感情发生了进展，你会更加放松、更加坚定地对待你的伴侣，这很大程度上来源于两种荷尔蒙：

oxytocin and vasopressin.

催产素和加压素。

Known as pair-bonding hormones, they signal trust, feelings of social support and attachment.

这两种激素成对出现，产生信任、互相之间的支持和依赖感。

In this way, romantic love is not unlike other forms of love, as these hormones also help bond families and friendships.

这样，爱情就和其他形式的爱并无二致，因为这些荷尔蒙也会促进亲情和友情的联结。

Further, oxytocin can inhibit the release of stress hormones, which is why spending time with a loved one can feel so relaxing.

而且催产素也会抑制焦虑激素的释放，也就是为什么和爱的人待在一起很让人放松。

As early love's suspension of judgment fades, it can be replaced by a more honest understanding and deeper connection.

爱的初期盲目消散之时，就会由更清晰的理解和更坚实的联结取代。

Alternatively, as your rose-colored glasses begin to lose their tint, problems in your relationship may become more evident.

换句话说，你的粉红泡泡破灭的时候，这段感情中的问题就渐渐浮现了出来。

No matter the reason a relationship ends, we can blame the pain that accompanies heartbreak on the brain.

无论这段感情结束的原因是什么，我们可以把伴随心碎的痛苦归咎于大脑。

The distress of a breakup activates the insular cortex, a region that processes pain— both physical, like spraining your ankle, as well as social,

分手的悲痛激活了岛叶皮层，该区域会处理痛苦信号——可以是身体上的，比如脚踝崴了，也可以是人际交往上的，

like the feelings of rejection.

比如被拒绝的感觉。

As days pass, you may find yourself once again daydreaming about or craving contact with your lost partner.

随着时间的推移，你有可能会重燃对前任的心心念念，或者渴望重拾与其的联络。

The drive to reach out may feel overwhelming, like an extreme hunger or thirst.

主动联系的欲望可能会排山倒海地向你袭来，就像进入了极度饥饿或口渴的状态。

When looking at photos of a former partner, heartbroken individuals again show increased activity in the VTA,

看着前任的照片，心碎之人的VTA又活跃了起来，

the motivation and reward center that drove feelings of longing during the initial stages of the relationship.

激励和奖赏中心点燃了感情初期的渴望。

This emotional whirlwind also likely activates your body's alarm system, the stress axis, leaving you feeling shaken and restless.

这场情感旋风也可能会激活你身体的报警系统、你的应激轴，让你感到坐立难安。

As time goes on, higher cortical regions which oversee reasoning and impulse control, can pump the brakes on this distress and craving signaling.

过了一段时间，控制理性和冲动的高级皮质区会缓和这份焦虑和渴望的心情。

Given that these regions are still maturing and making connections through adolescence,

这部分区域会在青春期逐渐发育、建立联结，

it's no wonder that first heartbreak can feel particularly agonizing.

所以第一次心碎让人痛彻心扉也就不奇怪了。

Activities like exercise, spending time with friends, or even listening to your favorite song can tame this heartbreak stress response,

进行一些活动，如锻炼身体、和朋友玩耍，乃至听你最喜欢的歌曲，都可以缓解心碎带来的应激反应，

while also triggering the release of feel good neurotransmitter dopamine.

也可以释放更多的快乐神经递质多巴胺。

And given time and the support, most can heal and learn from even the most devastating heartbreak.

时间和他人的支持可以抚平心碎的悲痛欲绝，甚至可以让人有所收获。