Science says, yes, there is a link between long gazes into each other’s eyes and forming a love connection.
–Model Tyrie Rudolph &-makeup by Leah Darcy – photos by Krish
There are more neurons in the brain dedicated to vision than the other four senses combined – up to 80% of what our bodies take in is filtered through our eyes. And the eyes are not just windows to the soul, but also to neuron pathways that can form love connections in our brains.
Aron’s inspiration came from a 1970 study by Zick Rubin that found that people with a stronger connection on the love spectrum also held eye contact for significantly longer periods. According to Rubin’s findings, most people in conversation give eye contact anywhere from 30 to 60% of the time. Couples who are in love, on the other hand, look at each other 75% of the time when they’re talking – and are far slower to break eye contact when they’re interrupted.
–Model Danielle Herrington
Aron says the two biggest factors to falling in love through eye contact are i) the other person is reasonably appropriate and desirable, and ii) there is reason to think they might be interested in you.
The first can be assessed by a good, long look. Aron believes the eye contact itself cements the second.
Science says that the eyes are not just windows to the soul, but also to neuron pathways that can form love connections in our brains.
When lust morphs into love:
–Model Danielle Herrington
When lust morphs into love All looks of attraction and interest aren’t equal, however. Stephanie Cacioppo, part of the University of Chicago’s department of psychiatry and behavioral neuroscience, is studying what separates a look of love from a look of lust. She believes science can help find the biological means that contribute to long, lasting monogamous relationships. “We all think we know what love is, but we don’t,” she says.
The mechanics of the two types of looks differ. In a 2014 study, Cacioppo’s team found that lustful gazes were characterized by looking at the body. There were more overall looks logged in the lust column, but each one was faster. Love looks consisted of sustained gazing directly into the eyes.
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Cacioppo believes lust can turn into something meaningful. “Passionate love grows out of desire,” she says.
Scientists know it’s possible to fall in love with a look, and they’re starting to investigate how that is evolving in modern times.
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