[Love and neurology].
BACKGROUND
Love is a complex emotional state which is difficult to define. Considering anthropological studies, this feeling can now be divided into three distinct behaviors: lust, attraction for a specific partner and conjugal or filial attachment.


BACKGROUND
For each, recent findings have contributed to identify specific neuronal networks which are interconnected as shown by common activation of limbic and paralimbic systems. A major role of arginine/vasopressin and oxytocin has also been pointed out for mate choice and attachment promotion. In the field of neurology, studies about pathologies of love are sparse and mainly focused on sexual disorders. Pathologies of attachment like autism and borderline personality are beginning to be identified.


CONCLUSIONS
Future investigations would yield a better understanding of this complex emotional state and a better detection of new pathologies related to a major affective disability.


CONCLUSIONS
Neurosciences have contributed to highlight mechanisms involved in love.
Collongues
N
N
Département de neurologie, hôpitaux universitaires de Strasbourg, 1, place de l'Hôpital, 67091 Strasbourg cedex, France. nicolas.collongues@chru-strasbourg.fr
Cretin
B
B
de Seze
J
J
Blanc
F
F
D001127:Arginine Vasopressin / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007989:Libido; D008032:Limbic System / Q000502:physiology; D008149:Love; D008297:Male; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000502:physiology; D009462:Neurology; D009769:Object Attachment; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000502:physiology; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000523:psychology
D001127:Arginine Vasopressin; D010121:Oxytocin