Temporal changes in functional magnetic resonance imaging activation of heterosexual couples for visual stimuli of loved partners
Open accessAbstract
OBJECTIVE: Previous neuroimaging studies on romantic love have focused on determining how the visual stimuli that serve as a representation of loved ones induce the neural activation patterns of romantic love. The purpose of this study was to investigate the temporal changes in romantic love over a period of 6 months and their correlated neurophysiological changes. METHODS: Five heterosexual couples (n=10, mean age 21.1+/-1.97) who started dating not less than 100 days previously were recruited to measure their blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) signals using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) while showing them pictures of their loved ones and their previously identified, opposite-sex friends. Subsequently, the subjects were scanned under the same experimental conditions to assess possible changes in their brain activities after 180 days. RESULTS: WE FOUND THAT THEIR PASSIONATE LOVE SCORE (PLS) VALUES (M: 118.6+/-9.1, F: 120.2+/-7.0) were significantly reduced after 6 months (M: 110.8+/-4.0, F: 106.2+/-3.0). Furthermore, significantly increased activations were found in the cingulate gyri, inferior frontal gyri, supramarginal gyri, etc., after 6 months, whereas the head and tail of the right caudate nucleus were deactivated, which is indicative of the inhibition of expression and sensory neglect. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that dynamic neural processes in the cortical-subcortical regions are involved in temporal changes in romantic love.
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
Long-term pair-bonds show increased activation in the anterior cingulate, insular cortex, and ventral pallidum.
“On the other hand, activations of cortical regions including the anterior cingulate, insular cortex, and ventral pallidum were increased in long-term pair-bonds (Aron et al., 2005; Bartels and Zeki, 2000; Kim et al., 2009).”
From Oxytocin during the initial stages of romantic attachment: Relations to couples’ interactive reciprocity (2012) · cites this paper as Kim et al., 2009
The Results (Neural activities 180 days after the preliminary scan; page not provided) report increased activation in both cingulate gyri after 180 days, and the Discussion identifies the anterior cingulate as involved. The paper does not report increased activation in the insular cortex or ventral pallidum, and its comparison is a six-month follow-up of the same couples rather than a general finding about long-term pair-bonds. (LLM, conf=0.89)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThe initial stage of a romantic relationship is associated with greater neural activity in the left posterior cingulate cortex and caudate regions than later stages.
“In particular, the initial stage of a romantic relationship has been associated with greater neural activity in the left posterior cingulate cortex and caudate regions (Aron et al., 2005; Bartels and Zeki, 2000; Kim et al., 2009) as compared to later stages of the relationship.”
From Oxytocin during the initial stages of romantic attachment: Relations to couples’ interactive reciprocity (2012) · cites this paper as Kim et al., 2009
The Results (‘Neural activities 180 days after the preliminary scan’; page unavailable) report less activation in the right caudate after 180 days, supporting greater initial caudate activity. But they report increased activation in both cingulate gyrus areas (BA 31 and BA 33) at follow-up, not greater initial activation in the left posterior cingulate cortex. (LLM, conf=0.91)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
The self-check needs the paper’s full text.
Cites
Oxytocin increases trust in humans
Kosfeld, M., Heinrichs, M., Zak, P. J., Fischbacher, U., & Fehr, E. (2005) · Nature · doi:10.1038/nature03701 · Cited by 3,690 · see citing works
Functional anatomy of the basal ganglia. I. The cortico-basal ganglia-thalamo-cortical loop
Parent, A., & Hazrati, L.-N. (1995) · Brain Research Reviews · doi:10.1016/0165-0173(94)00007-c · Cited by 2,161 · see citing works
Pain and emotion interactions in subregions of the cingulate gyrus
Vogt, B. A. (2005) · Nature Reviews Neuroscience · doi:10.1038/nrn1704 · Cited by 1,810 · see citing works
Primate anterior cingulate cortex: Where motor control, drive and cognition interface
Paus, T. (2001) · Nature Reviews Neuroscience · doi:10.1038/35077500 · Cited by 1,722 · see citing works
Oxytocin Modulates Neural Circuitry for Social Cognition and Fear in Humans
Kirsch, P., Esslinger, C., Chen, Q., Mier, D., Lis, S., Siddhanti, S., Gruppe, H., Mattay, V. S., Gallhofer, B., & Meyer-Lindenberg, A. (2005) · The Journal of Neuroscience · doi:10.1523/jneurosci.3984-05.2005 · Cited by 1,639 · see citing works
The neural correlates of maternal and romantic love
Bartels, A., & Zeki, S. (2004) · NeuroImage · doi:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2003.11.003 · Cited by 1,448 · see citing works
Neuroendocrine perspectives on social attachment and love
Sue Carter, C. (1998) · Psychoneuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/s0306-4530(98)00055-9 · Cited by 1,425 · see citing works
Multiple reward signals in the brain
Schultz, W. (2000) · Nature Reviews Neuroscience · doi:10.1038/35044563 · Cited by 1,303 · see citing works
Rauch, S. L. (1996) · Archives of General Psychiatry · doi:10.1001/archpsyc.1996.01830050014003 · Cited by 1,056 · see citing works
The neural basis of romantic love
Bartels, A., & Zeki, S. (2000) · NeuroReport · doi:10.1097/00001756-200011270-00046 · Cited by 1,020 · see citing works
Reward, Motivation, and Emotion Systems Associated With Early-Stage Intense Romantic Love
Aron, A., Fisher, H., Mashek, D. J., Strong, G., Li, H., & Brown, L. L. (2005) · Journal of Neurophysiology · doi:10.1152/jn.00838.2004 · Cited by 963 · see citing works
Functional anatomy of the basal ganglia
Yelnik, J. (2002) · Movement Disorders · doi:10.1002/mds.10138 · Cited by 957 · see citing works
Neuroimaging and frontal–subcortical circuitry in obsessive–compulsive disorder
Saxena, S., Brody, A. L., Schwartz, J. M., & Baxter, L. R. (1998) · British Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.1192/s0007125000297870 · Cited by 831 · see citing works
Measuring passionate love in intimate relationships
Hatfield, E. C., & Sprecher, S. (1986) · Journal of Adolescence · doi:10.1016/s0140-1971(86)80043-4 · Cited by 687 · see citing works
The Roles of the Caudate Nucleus in Human Classification Learning
Seger, C. A., & Cincotta, C. M. (2005) · Journal of Neuroscience · doi:10.1523/jneurosci.3401-04.2005 · Cited by 403 · see citing works
Romantic love: an fMRI study of a neural mechanism for mate choice.
Fisher, H., Aron, A., & Brown, L. L. (2005) · Journal of Comparative Neurology · doi:10.1002/cne.20772 · Cited by 396 · see citing works
Loup, F., Tribollet, E., Dubois-Dauphin, M., & Dreifuss, J. J. (1991) · Brain Research · doi:10.1016/0006-8993(91)90345-v · Cited by 378 · see citing works
Crofts, H. S. (2001) · Cerebral Cortex · doi:10.1093/cercor/11.11.1015 · Cited by 284 · see citing works
Increased anterior cingulate and caudate activity in bipolar mania
Blumberg, H. P., Stern, E. R., Martínez, D., Ricketts, S., de Asis, J. M., White, T. G., Epstein, J., McBride, P., Eidelberg, D., Kocsis, J. H., et al. (2000) · Biological Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/s0006-3223(00)00962-8 · Cited by 276 · see citing works
Engelmann, M., Wotjak, C. T., Neumann, I. D., Ludwig, M., & Landgraf, R. (1996) · Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews · doi:10.1016/0149-7634(95)00059-3 · Cited by 267 · see citing works
The effects of vasopressin on human facial responses related to social communication
Thompson, R. R., Gupta, S., Miller, K., Mills, S. D., & Orr, S. P. (2003) · Psychoneuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/s0306-4530(02)00133-6 · Cited by 184 · see citing works
Martin-Soelch, C., Leenders, K., Chevalley, A., Missimer, J., Kunig, G., Magyar, S., Miño, A., & Schultz, W. W. (2001) · Brain research. Brain research reviews · doi:10.1016/s0165-0173(01)00089-3 · Cited by 162 · see citing works
Feature-Based Anticipation of Cues that Predict Reward in Monkey Caudate Nucleus
Lauwereyns, J., Takikawa, Y., Kawagoe, R., Kobayashi, S., Koizumi, M., Coe, B. C., Sakagami, M., & Hikosaka, O. (2002) · Neuron · doi:10.1016/s0896-6273(02)00571-8 · Cited by 123 · see citing works
THE EVOLUTIONARY ANTECEDENTS TO LOVE
Crews, D. (1998) · Psychoneuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/s0306-4530(98)00053-5 · Cited by 27 · see citing works
Receptors and Neural Effects of Oxytocin in the Rodent Hypothalamus and Preoptic Region
Dreifuss, J. J., Tribollet, E., Dubois‐Dauphin, M., & Raggenbass, M. (2007) · Novartis Foundation symposium · doi:10.1002/9780470514283.ch12 · Cited by 11 · see citing works
Winton, T. (1987) · Medical Entomology and Zoology · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Flagged first, then by citations
Research works printed but not linked: 1
- Dreifuss, 1992, Ciba Found Symp, 168, 187
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Oxytocin and social affiliation in humans
Feldman, R. (2012) · Hormones and Behavior · doi:10.1016/j.yhbeh.2012.01.008 · Cited by 767 · see citing works
Schneiderman, I., Zagoory-Sharon, O., Leckman, J. F., & Feldman, R. (2012) · Psychoneuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2011.12.021 · Cited by 317 · see citing works
“In particular, the initial stage of a romantic relationship has been associated with greater neural activity in the left posterior cingulate cortex and caudate regions (Aron et al., 2005; Bartels and Zeki, 2000; Kim et al., 2009) as compared to later stages of the relationship.”
The Brain Reaction to Viewing Faces of Opposite- and Same-Sex Romantic Partners
Zeki, S., & Romaya, J. P. (2010) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0015802 · Cited by 152 · see citing works
Love is more than just a kiss: a neurobiological perspective on love and affection
de Boer, A., van Buel, E. M., & Ter Horst, G. J. (2012) · Neuroscience · doi:10.1016/j.neuroscience.2011.11.017 · Cited by 123 · see citing works
Schneiderman, I., Kanat‐Maymon, Y., Ebstein, R. P., & Feldman, R. (2013) · Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience · doi:10.1093/scan/nst142 · Cited by 87 · see citing works
Schneiderman, I., Kanat‐Maymon, Y., Zagoory‐Sharon, O., & Feldman, R. (2014) · Social Neuroscience · doi:10.1080/17470919.2014.893925 · Cited by 74 · see citing works
Falling in love is associated with immune system gene regulation
Murray, D. R., Haselton, M. G., Fales, M. R., & Cole, S. W. (2018) · Psychoneuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2018.09.043 · Cited by 39 · see citing works
Love alters autonomic reactivity to emotions.
Schneiderman, I., Zilberstein-Kra, Y., Leckman, J. F., & Feldman, R. (2011) · Emotion · doi:10.1037/a0024090 · Cited by 33 · see citing works
Shih, H.-C., Kuo, M.-E., Wu, C., Chao, Y.-P., Huang, H.-W., & Huang, C.-M. (2022) · Brain Sciences · doi:10.3390/brainsci12070830 · Cited by 32 · see citing works
Attention modulates the dorsal striatum response to love stimuli
Langeslag, S. J. E., van der Veen, F. M., & Röder, C. H. (2012) · Human Brain Mapping · doi:10.1002/hbm.22197 · Cited by 25 · see citing works
Bode, A., & Kowal, M. (2023) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2023.983419 · Cited by 23 · see citing works
Family matters: Directionality of turning bias while kissing is modulated by context
Sedgewick, J. R., & Elias, L. J. (2016) · Laterality Asymmetries of Body Brain and Cognition · doi:10.1080/1357650x.2015.1136320 · Cited by 22 · see citing works
The Effects of Romantic Love on Mentalizing Abilities
Wlodarski, R., & Dunbar, R. (2014) · Review of General Psychology · doi:10.1037/gpr0000020 · Cited by 22 · see citing works
Bortolini, T., Laport, M. C., Latgé-Tovar, S., Fischer, R. D., Zahn, R., de Oliveira‐Souza, R., & Moll, J. (2024) · Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews · doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105584 · Cited by 20 · see citing works
Beyond human intentions and emotions
Juan, E., Frum, C., Bianchi‐Demicheli, F., Wang, Y., Lewis, J. W., & Cacioppo, S. (2013) · Frontiers in Human Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnhum.2013.00099 · Cited by 18 · see citing works
Wu, Y. H., Veerareddy, A., Lee, M. R., Bellucci, G., Camilleri, J. A., Eickhoff, S. B., & Krüeger, F. (2021) · Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews · doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.09.053 · Cited by 17 · see citing works
Love Is the Cause of Human Evolution
Burunat, E. (2014) · Advances in Anthropology · doi:10.4236/aa.2014.42013 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
Yang, Y., Wang, C., Shi, J.-N., & Zou, Z.-L. (2024) · Neuropsychologia · doi:10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2024.109003 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Decoding Inter-individual Relations from Spatial Similarity of Brain Activity
Anders, S., Haynes, J., & Ethofer, T. (2010) · doi:10.1109/wbd.2010.18 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Wang, S., Hou, W., Wang, Y., Tang, Q., Tao, Y., & Liu, X. (2023) · PsyCh Journal · doi:10.1002/pchj.683 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Burunat, E. (2015) · Advances in Anthropology · doi:10.4236/aa.2015.52008 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
The Neural and Genetic Basis of Romantic Love
Acevedo, B. P., Bartels, A., Sainz‐Ballesteros, A., & Grassi, P. R. (2025) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-76665-7_63-1 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Nobre, S., Reis, S. G. R., Castro, F. V., & Esteves, M. D. F. L. (2013) · LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas) · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Esteves, M. L., Castro, F. V., & Nobre, S. (2013) · LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas) · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Current Evidence of the Monoaminergic Regulation of Romantic Love and Relationship
Chen, W.-H., Chu, M.-Y., Chu, Y.-H., Lin, Y.-C., & Chen, K.-Y. (2017) · Advances in Sexual Medicine · doi:10.4236/asm.2017.73011
Cognitive Neuroscience of Love
van Stee, A. (2022) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-06801-0_2
Lin, J. (2025) · International Conference on Distance Education and Learning (ICDEL) · doi:10.1109/icdel65868.2025.11193488
The Neural and Genetic Basis of Romantic Love
Acevedo, B. P., Bartels, A., Sainz‐Ballesteros, A., & Grassi, P. R. (2025) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-94512-0_63
- Authors
- Kim, W., Kim, S., Jeong, J., Lee, K.-U., Ahn, K.-J., Chung, Y.-A., Hong, K.-Y., & Chae, J.-H.
- Affiliations
- Inje University (KR)
- Department of Bio and Brain Engineering, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, Korea.
- Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KR)
- Catholic University of Korea (KR)
- Corresponding author
- Chae, Jeong-Ho
- Venue
- Psychiatry Investigation
- Publisher
- Korean Neuropsychiatric Association
- Published
- 2009
- Volume
- 6
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 19
- ISSN
- 1738-3684 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC2796039
- OpenAlex
- W2168405824
- Semantic Scholar
- 5712f9f28b1b4250f8bb41faa5cf9d4eefea9c47
- Cited by
- 28
- References
- 26
- Citations by year
- 2025: 3 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 1 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 3 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 3
- FWCI
- 2.83
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Psychiatry Investigation (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Attachment and Relationship Dynamics
- Keywords
- romantic love, passionate love, heterosexual couples, neuronal activation, caudate nucleus, cingulate gyrus, inferior frontal gyrus, supramarginal gyrus, sensory neglect, cortical-subcortical interactions
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
