Submited on: 24 Oct 2012 09:48:36 AM GMT
Published on: 26 Oct 2012 06:26:06 PM GMT

In an earlier article on neurophysiology behind romantic kiss in humans [1], it has been suggested that kiss is associated with:

  1. Unconscious testing of the genetic fitness of the partner.
  2. Mate assessment.
  3. Fertility assessment.
  4. Emotional and social pairing and bonding via oxytocinergic mechanism.
  5. Feeling of pleasure and reward via dopaminergic mechanism.

            The author of the study [1] concluded with suggestion of conduction of well dsigned prospective studies and neuroimaging techniques for validation of the neurophysiology behind romantic kiss. A recent study [2] based on a questionnaire has been published that has validated the above five phenomena in the article [1].

            The neurophysiology behind romantic kiss in humans [1] has also been supported by findings from another recent study [3] in which the researchers found preference-shifts during various phases of menstrual cycle in the females. The authors observed that the value of kiss was  more during the follicular phase (peak fertile and conceivable state), which can be interpreted as a stronger and more intense urge and desire to copulate at the time of peak fertile and conceivable state for the propagation of species. The findings of this article [3] also, therefore, conform to the role of kiss in the purpose of species-propagation.

 

References:


[1] Jaseja H. The Neurophysiological Basis of Origin and Evolution of Romantic Kiss in                           Humans. WebmedCentral BEHAVIOUR 2012;3(10):WMC003785.

 

[2] Wlodarski R, Dunbar RI. Examining the Possible Functions of Kissing in Romantic    

            Relationships. Arch Sex Behav. 2013 Oct 11.

 

[3] Wlodarski R, Dunbar RI. Menstrual Cycle Effects on Attitudes toward Romantic Kissing.

            Hum Nat. 2013 Sep 29.