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Cited by 105Neuroendocrine regulation and behaviorNeurotransmitter Receptor Influence on BehaviorAttachment and Relationship Dynamics

Raised plasma nerve growth factor levels associated with early-stage romantic love

Emanuele, Enzo, Politi, Pierluigi, Bianchi, Marika, Minoretti, Piercarlo, Bertona, Marco, Geroldi, Diego·2006·Psychoneuroendocrinology
DOI 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2005.09.002
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Abstract

Our current knowledge of the neurobiology of romantic love remains scanty. In view of the complexity of a sentiment like love, it would not be surprising that a diversity of biochemical mechanisms could be involved in the mood changes of the initial stage of a romance. In the present study, we have examined whether the early romantic phase of a loving relationship could be associated with alterations in circulating levels of neurotrophins (NTs). Plasma levels of NGF, BDNF, NT-3 and NT-4 were measured in a total of 58 subjects who had recently fallen in love and compared with those of two control groups, consisting of subjects who were either single or were already engaged in a long-lasting relationship. NGF level was significantly higher (p < 0.001) in the subjects in love [mean (SEM): 227 (14) pg/ml] than in either the subjects with a long-lasting relationship [123 (10) pg/ml] or the subjects with no relationship [149 (12) pg/ml]. Notably, there was also a significant positive correlation between levels of NGF and the intensity of romantic love as assessed with the passionate love scale (r = 0.34; p = 0.007). No differences in the concentrations of other NTs were detected. In 39 subjects in love who-after 12-24 months-maintained the same relationship but were no longer in the same mental state to which they had referred during the initial evaluation, plasma NGF levels decreased and became indistinguishable from those of the control groups. Taken together, these findings suggest that some behavioural and/or psychological features associated with falling in love could be related to raised NGF levels in the bloodstream.

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  • The early stages of romantic love may be linked to alterations in plasma cortisol, sex steroids, nerve growth factor, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and decreased platelet serotonin transporter density.

    “In addition, research has shown that the early stages of romantic love may be linked to alterations in plasma levels of cortisol, sex steroids, nerve growth factor (NGF), and brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) (Marazziti et al., 2009), as well as decreased density of the serotonin transporter in platelets (Emanuele et al., 2006; Marazziti et al., 1999; Marazziti and Canale, 2004), suggesting”

    From Oxytocin during the initial stages of romantic attachment: Relations to couples’ interactive reciprocity (2012) · cites this paper as Emanuele et al., 2006

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Authors
Emanuele, E., Politi, P., Bianchi, M., Minoretti, P., Bertona, M., & Geroldi, D.
Affiliations
University of Pavia (IT)
Corresponding author
Emanuele, Enzo
ORCID
Venue
Psychoneuroendocrinology
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2006-04
Volume
31
Issue
3
Pages
288-294
ISSN
0306-4530 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.psyneuen.2005.09.002
OpenAlex
W2114990285
Cited by
105
References
38
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 6 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 6 · 2012: 9
FWCI
5.80
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
Locations
  • Psychoneuroendocrinology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Attachment and Relationship Dynamics
Keywords
romantic love, nerve growth factor, neurotrophins, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, neurotrophin-3, neurotrophin-4, neurobiology of love, plasma biomarkers, falling in love, long-term relationships
MeSH terms
Adult, Emotions, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Libido, Love, Male, Nerve Growth Factors, Object Attachment, Reference Values, Chi-Square Distribution, Statistics, Nonparametric, Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor, Nerve Growth Factor, Neurotrophin 3, Recognition, Psychology

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