As someone who does not understand the appeal of romantic comedies, roses, or maudlin accoustic guitar music, this research validates my impression of the love-struck as utterly insane and irrational creatures.

According to analysis of images presented in The Journal of Neurophysiology, brain activity recorded during romantic infatuation suggests that feelings of love are biologically very similar to our desire for food and water, and can be just as powerful. There are also remarkable similarities between the neurological circuits of love and the circuits involved in drug addiction; in particular, both drug addiction and love involve areas of the brain heavily populated by cells that respond to the neurotransmitter dopamine. Being dumped might be described as "going cold turkey," as it can lead to withdrawal and cravings for the love-stimulus that will sometimes lead to rebound relationships and flings.

Oh, and in totally and completely unrelated news, the reason I was gone for so long was that I attended the wedding of my good friends, Jenn and Josh! Who, I am certain, are now experiencing the neurologically distinct form of non-infatuative love, in which their passion centers are less outrageously activated and the areas associated with long-term pair bond have taken over.