Twitter affects brain chemistry the same as love

Computer Love http://youtu.be/WcGfxTdSACM

I think this just proves that love is highly overrated, possibly pathological. That is, the head over heels euphoric type love. Romantic love that does not resemble Twitter induced euphoria is still Ok in my opinion.

There are some studies involving facebook or any other social networks by some harvard scientists, a lot other studies are made about it but in a marketing approach (though they do use some science in it). Here’s a link to Nicholas A. Christakis (one of the guys involved): http://christakis.med.harvard…. It doesn’t say much (you have to buy a book) but it might be interesting. Talks about how social networking affects in a way your brain.

See, this is why I hate pop neuroscience. It distracts us with the brain. http://itre.cis.upenn.edu/~myl…What, Twittering triggers oxytocin release—in other words, it FEELS GOOD?Next you’ll tell me that video games trigger dopamine release—you mean they are ADDICTIVE?And sappy movies result in a downregulation of serotonin—you mean they are SAD?We are our brains. Of COURSE things that feel good will involve the release of hormones and neurotransmitters associated with things that feel good; that’s what FEELING GOOD is.Moreover, what this study does NOT explain is WHY Twittering feels good in the first place—WHY it triggers that oxytocin high. THAT is an interesting question; it gets into the evolutionary psychology of sociality, affection, friendship, and lots of other things. But MRI research can’t tell you those things; you have to do much more thorough, subtle research.

Are you sure? I’ve read that vasopressin early in development can increase aggression; but I’ve never heard that for oxytocin.

Honestly I think a well-designed and well-analyzed survey is often far more scientifically useful than any but the best neuroimaging study. But neuroimaging is sexy right now, and surveys have never gotten the respect they deserve…