Affairs of the Lips: Why We Kiss
http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=affairs-of-the-lips-why-we-kiss&print=true
A kiss, varies from tradition to passion during the daylight and the wee hours of darkness.
"In the body, a kiss triggers a cascade of neural messages and chemicals that transmit tactile sensations, sexual excitement, feelings of closeness, motivation and even euphoria."
Kisses are said to be able to predict the future of the relationship. For example, If the first kiss goes bad the relationship may stop then and there. Some scientists believe that through kissing you can determine the extent of commitment from the other person.
I remember as a child my favorite animal to watch at the zoo was the bonobos or the 'kissing monkeys.' Well, evolutionists proposed the idea that we may have inheirited our desire to kiss from these chimpanzees (they were really feeding chewed up food mouth to mouth to their babies). When food was scarce the chimps could comfort and show affection to their babies by pressing their outturned lips against the babies lips. Bonobos, or the 'kissing monkeys' have been known to kiss using tongue!
Pheromones are used by plants and animals to get their message across to members of their own species. It has not yet been decided whether or not people have these silent chemical messengers. If humans do carry these pheromones it may explain a few mysteries including: why women the smell of male sweat may heighten sexual arousal in women it may also explain why women who live together tend to have the same menstrual cycle. If this theory of pheromones is true, kissing is a great way to pass them from one person to another.
Kissing tends to be addictive. Probably because the lips have the most sensory neurons in the smallest area of any body region. Kissing arouses these neurons which send constant messages to the brain "setting off delightful sensations, intense emotion and physical reactions."Let me introduce you to a new kind of stress reliever, all-natural and drug free- Kissing! Kissing presumably allows your body to release a chemical (cortisol) which helps relieve stress. Love not only relieves stress but can also stimulate your brain in the same regions as drugs such as cocaine. People's brains were being scanned as they looked at pictures of people they were in love with and it aroused reward centers that released dopamine, the same neurotransmitter released by addictive drugs.
I guess the conclusion is this, next time you get in caught making out in the locker room during lunch you can just tell Mr. Marrah you were relieving some stress, eh? I think it's interesting that there is scientific evidence that kissing is addictive and has similar effects as drugs. So many people seem to be lovestruck and to everyone around it seems like a joke, but apperently it's possible they could be 'addicted and high off love'. I really never thought about/ I'm not sure I agree with the fact that a kiss can tell a person the level of committment one has for another with regards of having their children and whatnot. I agree with the quote above, "...chemicals that transmit tactile sensations, sexual excitement, feelings of closeness, motivation and even euphoria". I think it's important to be smart and not get to physical because of this uncontrollable desire that comes about when you're physically and romantically involved with someone. I think this knowledge should encourage you to think ahead and prepare yourself with boundaries and draw your lines before you're stuck; because when you're in a simply euphoric situation you will not want to make decisons that might hinder that sexual excitement. I know this is what you've been hearing from teachers and adults all of your life... BUT, now you have science to prove it!!!
4 Comments:
Oh Forgrave I thought about making this comment extremely Sydnee like but I decided against it. :) But in all seriousness I don't agree with the statement about how the first kiss can determine how long a relationship lasts, that seems a bit shallow but if its that bad, I guess. The pheromone idea was interesting and I'm wondering what other things can be shared through this hormone or chemical. I agree with Rachel about being careful with these chemicals, they can be awesome or terrible, depending on how u use them!
p.s. I'm not sure what study they did but I am certainly not attracted to a sweaty and stinky male..yick!
I have always wondered why humans kiss and I guess it makes sense based on how many nerve sensors we have in our lips and the chemicals released by the brain when we kiss. I think we do more that just kiss with our mouth to make us feel good or less stressed out. I think the nerve sensors and chemicals are the reason that people eat when they're stressed out or depressed.
I think it's immpossible to tell what kind of commitment someone has in a relationship based on the way they kiss. There are a lot of guys out there who are probably great kissers because they've kissed so many times. So while the kiss might be great, there is no guarantee that there will be any commitment.
Can I just say, Rachel you are funny!
Now for real: I understand that the chemicals and nerve sensors in our lips can cause the feeling of closeness, tactile sensations and so on, that all makes sense, but I do not agree with the statement of determining the commitement from the other person. I think Alexandra made a good point in saying that someone may be a good kisser, because they're maybe too experienced, but you certainly can't use that to determine your relationship! I did however think it was interesting that scientists are saying that kissing can relieve stress...
but that doesn't mean you can use that as an excuse when you get caught by Mr. Marrah!
I totally agree, but I do think there has to be 'chemistry' with the other person, but totally don't think the kiss can determine the rest of the relationship..... that's what it said in the article!!
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