
09/12/2025
Not all love looks the same—at least in your brain. New research reveals that romantic and parental love activate reward and social cognition regions more intensely than love for pets, friends, or nature (Rinne et al., 2024).
Moreover, closer bonds elicit stronger feelings of love and, thus, more activation in the reward pathways. Even pet owners show stronger brain responses to their animals than non-owners (Rinne et al., 2024).
Love isn’t just a feeling—it’s a neural signature shaped by who (or what) we care about.
If you are having trouble with your relationships, CRUX Psychology can help. We specialize in treating individuals, couples, and families. You can reach us at 1-844-888-2789 or info@cruxpsychology.ca. To learn more about our psychologists and how we can help you, visit https://cruxpsychology.ca/
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