Afeto, Ciência e Sociedade: Uma Revisão Narrativa sobre a Neurobiologia do Amor Romântico

Romantic love has long been a topic of discussion since its conceptualisation, especially due to its universal characteristics. Such discussions, encompassing cultural, social, neurophysiological, chemical, and behavioural dimensions, have increasingly enriched this debate in contemporary times. Historically, love has been described for over 5,000 years, represented in literature and the arts, and more recently investigated in psychology and neuroscience. This narrative review explores the neurobiological aspects of romantic love, adopting a biological perspective that defi nes it as a motivational state associated with increased mating desire. Neuroimaging studies reveal the activation of brain areas such as the nucleus accumbens and the ventral tegmental area, regions involved in the brain’s reward system and associated with pleasure and motivation, when romantic love is experienced. These motivational states are also related to signifi cant neurochemical changes in the body, such as the release of neurotransmitters such as dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin, and hormones such as cortisol, luteinizing hormone (LH), and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). Oxytocin, in particular, can act as a neurotransmitter, modulating neural circuits associated with emotional and social processing, and as a hormone, exerting peripheral eff ects. It is noteworthy that neurochemical aspects infl uence bond formation and social behaviours that demonstrate the full complexity of romantic love. Given the multidimensionality of the topic, it is concluded that studies on love require an interdisciplinar approach. Future research should seek to understand the distinctions between diff erent forms of love and their neurobiological bases, aiming to deepen scientifi c knowledge and its applications in clinical and social interventions. Keywords: Romantic love, reward system, motivation, dopamine, oxytocin