Grace Jones had it right:
In an analysis of the images appearing today in The Journal of Neurophysiology, researchers in New York and New Jersey argue that romantic love is a biological urge distinct from sexual arousal.
This research specifically covers infatuation, the time period in which one may actually devote 3-4 hours developing the perfect mix tape to snare one’s beloved.
It is closer in its neural profile to drives like hunger, thirst or drug craving, the researchers assert, than to emotional states like excitement or affection. As a relationship deepens, the brain scans suggest, the neural activity associated with romantic love alters slightly, and in some cases primes areas deep in the primitive brain that are involved in long-term attachment.
…This distinction, between finding someone attractive and desiring him or her, between liking and wanting, “is all happening in an area of the mammalian brain that takes care of most basic functions, like eating, drinking, eye movements, all at an unconscious level, and I don’t think anyone expected this part of the brain to be so specialized,” Dr. Brown said.
This could explain why I find Bill O’Reilly smarmily attractive even if I wouldn’t touch him with a ten thousand-foot pole. But Keith Olbermann, baby. Keith is my Other Boyfriend.
Did I just say that?
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Well, I don’t care where it comes from. Love is cool. (Not to sound too much like one of those sappy dolls from the 70s.)
But it’s gonna really screw with the Valentine’s Day cards.
“I have a biological urge to mate with you”…. doesn’t really ring as nicely.
get your head examined and develop a crush on Bill Murray … as I do.
Credit where credit’s due: Bryan Ferry and Roxy Music, originally!
“Showing out, showing out, hit and run,
Olbermann meets girl and the beat goes on”
Am I the only one dying to know what mix tape Lauren would make for O’Reilly?
Bill O’Reilly!!!!!!!!??????????
Oh, I won’t be too hard on you. At least he is a real person (sorta). I’m so hot for a fictional character–I totally want Tony Soprano to club me over the head and have his way with me. Murderer and all, he’s so hot.
Jesus! you girls are making me feel normal (and that’s scarey)
I can’t say I’ve ever had a crush on a fictional character, but I did once cry at the end of a romance trilogy because I didn’t want it to end.
Now how’s that for a confession?
Bill O’Reilly, huh? Is that because, like me, you love falafel?
Mmmm, falafel. No, actually O’Reilly’s eyes are a very pretty shade of blue. But considering my brown eye thing, I could never date him. ;)
All future commenters: No jokes about brown eye.
What makes you think they’re not contacts?
“Don’t pull your love out on me, baby
If you do then I think that maybe
I’ll just lay me down and cry for a hundred years
Don’t pull your love out on me, honey
Take my heart, my soul, my money
But don’t leave me drownin’ in my tears”