Don’t break my brain, my achy-breaky brain

The NYT explains why I’m psychotic in today’s MEL-topping article about how falling in love – and getting dumped – registers as highly active brain activity. Apparently there’s a specific region of the brain hardwired for falling spectacularly in love – the caudate nucleus – and while it causes the loopy euphoria and borderline addiction of new love, it’s equally responsible for 2am drunk dialing and desperate, pleading emails. Oh God, you and your double-edged swords. They even have a name for why your ex is at his/her most attractive right after kicking you to the curb: “frustration-attraction.” Chin up, though, plucky dumpees: your caudate nucleus will bounce back and survive to swoon another day. I have a name for what happens then: hope.

Watching New Love as It Sears the Brain [NYT]

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