Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2009
| Subscribe to Newser's RSS feeds RSS | Follow Newser on Twitter Twitter


7

Scientists Locate Brain's Sentimental Center

Same Spot as Sex Urges

Share

(Newser) – It turns out sex and sentimentality are linked after all, reports Reuters. Scientists have pinpointed areas of the brain that determine an individual's warm and fuzzy feelings—which they say are the same regions that control sex and some food urges. Researchers hope the findings may help explain brain evolution and give insights into social psychiatric disorders like autism and schizophrenia.

Scientists say areas of the brain that control sex and food urges also control whether you are a
Scientists say areas of the brain that control sex and food urges also control whether you are a "people person" or not.   (BBC)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

Maybe the brain structure that supports social interaction evolved out of the brain structures that supported basic
survival drives.
- Graham Murray of Cambridge University.

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
OFF THE GRID
11.20.09
The Health-Care Wars Have Just Begun
11.19.09
Sarah Palin Deserves Some More Attention
7 comments
VIEWING:
 
NutsInNY
May 20, 09 5:03 AM CDT
The researcher's findings began, "Dear diary, today I pinpointed the areas of the brain that determine an individual's warm and fuzzy feeling" -- with all the i's dotted with tiny hearts. Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
+2
IN RESPONSE:
Mad
May 20, 09 7:58 AM CDT
Awwwww, how cute!
Vote up! Vote down!
0
ClearSight
May 20, 09 11:08 AM CDT
Quote: ""Researchers hope the findings may help explain brain evolution and give insights into social psychiatric disorders like autism and schizophrenia."" They forgot one social psychiatric disorder, liberalism. Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
-5
IN RESPONSE:
NutsInNY
May 20, 09 3:55 PM CDT
And one for you, NearSight: sociopathy.
Vote up! Vote down!
0
benbaum
May 20, 09 5:19 PM CDT
Another win for the evolutionary psychologists. I think I heard a while ago that "cute" things are also sexual, including if you think babies or animals are cute. Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
-1

View all 7 comments »

LEAVE A
COMMENT Comment Policy
Facebook ConnectPost this comment to Facebook?

After connecting you will have the option to post your comment on your Facebook profile.

 

Related Newser Stories

28 Stories

 New Brain Cells 
 Bump Old Memories 

Study finds new neurons clear out short-term memory

Nov 13, 09 5:03 AM CST
(Newser) - The birth of new brain cells bumps old memories into long-term storage, according to new research which upends earlier theories. Researchers working with rodents found that the creation of new neurons destabilized existing connections in the hippocampus instead of strengthening them as they had expected, effectively "clearing the inbox"... More »

MORE ABOUT:
memory • brain • neuroscience • neurons • short-term memory • hippocampus

CIA Interrogations Caused Brain Damage: Scientist

Harsh techniques damaged subject's facility for recall

Sep 21, 09 3:26 PM CDT
(AP) - The CIA's harsh interrogations are likely to have damaged the brains of terrorist suspects, diminishing their ability to recall and provide the detailed information the spy agency sought, according to a new scientific paper. The paper scrutinizes the techniques used by the CIA under the Bush administration through the lens... More »

MORE ABOUT:
CIA • memory • brain • brain damage • neuroscience • sleep deprivation • waterboarding • enhanced interrogation techniques

Scientist Seeks Help for the Hopelessly Lost

Brain disorder causes people to get lost even in their own homes

Aug 15, 09 9:48 AM CDT
(Newser) - A Canadian neuroscientist has discovered a brain disorder that causes sufferers to spend their lives hopelessly lost even in their own neighborhoods, reports the Canadian Press. People with developmental topographical disorientation utterly lack the ability to form mental maps and orient themselves, leaving them with no idea how to navigate... More »

MORE ABOUT:
brain • neuroscience • neurological disorder • neurology

28 Stories


New drug could cure phobias
BBC


Science & Health 
TwitterFollow @NewserScience on Twitter

 
autism • schizophrenia • brain • neuroscience • personality • Cambridge University

from our news partners