Research involving prairie voles has shown that the levels of the pleasure hormone dopamine gradually decrease after periods of separation, a mechanism that may help many individuals cope with romantic breakups.
The journal Current Biology recently published a study indicating that breaking up with a partner is challenging, but it appears that the brain has mechanisms to help overcome this event.
Dopamine surges when searching for and reuniting with a partner are believed to diminish over time after a breakup. (Photo: AFP).
Researchers studying prairie voles noted that these monogamous rodents experience a surge of dopamine in their brains when searching for and reuniting with their partners. However, after a prolonged separation, they no longer feel that way.
The research team conducted a series of experiments in which prairie voles had to press a lever to access their partner or an unfamiliar vole on the other side of a transparent door.
The team found that the prairie voles released more dopamine in their brains when they pressed the lever and opened the door to meet their partner, compared to when they encountered a strange vole. They also spent more time with their mate when reunited, and the dopamine levels increased significantly.
“We believe the difference is related to their awareness that they are about to reunite with their partner, reflecting that this reunion is more rewarding than interacting with a strange vole,” stated Dr. Zoe Donaldson, a behavioral neuroscientist at the University of Colorado Boulder and a senior author of the study.
However, these differences in dopamine levels disappeared after separating the pairs of prairie voles for four weeks, a significant period in the lifespan of these rodents.
The researchers indicated that these findings demonstrate a depreciation in the bond between prairie vole pairs, rather than the idea that they have forgotten one another.
Dr. Donaldson noted that this research may have implications for humans.
“If that dopamine signal is indeed crucial for helping to bond and maintain connections between people, it means that doing things to keep that signal strong is significantly important for relationship satisfaction,” she analyzed.
Additionally, she mentioned that this could assist individuals struggling to regain balance after losing a loved one. For these individuals, the dopamine signal associated with their partner may not adapt after the loss, fundamentally hindering their grieving process.
“The larger goal of my research is to identify ways to assist those suffering from prolonged grief disorder by pinpointing biological changes that help them accept their loss and reintegrate into life,” she explained.
