Biology of romantic love

High school (ages 12+)
Human Body

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/biology-of-romantic-love

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the primary scientific disciplines?Evolutionary psychology, evolutionary biology, anthropology, neuroscience
2. What is the key neurochemicals?Dopamine (reward, motivation), Oxytocin (bonding, trust)
3. What makes us feel butterflies when we like someone?When we first notice someone we like, a chemical called dopamine lights up the brain’s reward center. It makes us feel happy, excited, and very focused on that person.
4. Why do people want to stay close to someone they love?Oxytocin, known as the bonding hormone, helps us feel trust and closeness. It grows stronger as a relationship deepens.

Neuroscience: The scientific study of the nervous system, focusing on the brain's structure and function.
Neurochemicals: Chemical substances that transmit signals in the brain and nervous system, influencing mood and behavior.
Evolutionary Psychology: A theoretical approach that explains psychological traits as the functional products of natural selection.