::A PART OF ME / WOULD LIKE / TO TRAVEL IN YOUR VEINS::NGF ("nerve growth factor") is a
neurotrophin molecule found to be present in the bloodstream of new lovers. The catch? It only usually hangs around for about a year. (Austin, I think we might be on the right-side long tail of the Nerve Growth Factor Plasma Presence normal curve. Go us!)
Psychiatrists from Pavia University have discovered that:
"Previous NGF level was significantly higher (p<0.001) in the subjects in love [mean (SEM): 227 (14) pg/ml] than in either the subjects with a long-lasting relationship [123 (10) pg/ml] or the subjects with no relationship [149 (12) pg/ml]. Notably, there was also a significant positive correlation between levels of previous NGF and the intensity of romantic love as assessed with the passionate love scale (r=0.34; p=0.007)."
Check out those statistical significances! Usually, at least in psychology, a
p value (which represents the likelihood these results occurred due to chance) of .05 or less is acceptable.
NGF is responsible for nerve growth (hence the name). Does that mean that people have better-functioning nervous systems when they're in the throes of passionate love? I wonder if it correlates to memory, spatial ability, motor skills, reflex action, etc. which are typical gauges of nervous system health. Sheesh, no wonder I love that rush!
It's also one of the prettier polypeptides:
Link to Reuters article,
Link to abstract.
(via
BoingBoing)