The heart has long been the global logo for love — from ancient art to emojis. But science says otherwise: your brain, not your heart, is the true control center of passion, desire, and bonding.

The Heart Myth

The ❤️ symbol doesn’t look like an actual heart. Some say it came from the silphium seedpod, an extinct plant. Poets and philosophers (like Aristotle) added fuel by calling the heart the seat of emotions. Over time, culture crowned the heart as love’s mascot.
The Brain’s Love Circuit

Modern neuroscience shows falling in love lights up the ventral tegmental area (dopamine release = thrill), the caudate nucleus (motivation, reward), and the prefrontal cortex (decision-making — which actually goes quiet during infatuation).
- Lust: driven by testosterone & estrogen.
- Attraction: dopamine & serotonin spikes (obsession, craving).
- Attachment: oxytocin & vasopressin build long-term bonds.
Your heart’s fast beats? Just your brain sending stress signals to the autonomic nervous system.
Why the Heart Stuck Anyway

Symbols aren’t about accuracy, they’re about emotional punch. The heart is simple, recognizable, and poetic. The brain? Complex, messy, and harder to turn into a cute emoji. That’s why ❤️ wins in culture, even though 🧠 deserves the credit.

Fun Fact: In brain scans, people in love show patterns eerily similar to those addicted to cocaine. Both light up the same reward pathways.
What It Means for Us

Knowing love is brainwork helps us understand why feelings can override logic, why breakups feel like withdrawal, and why relationships shape our mental health so deeply. By studying the brain, we don’t “ruin” romance — we learn how love drives human connection, creativity, and even survival.