July 2010 PMID 20445032

Reward, addiction, and emotion regulation systems associated with rejection in love.

Helen E Fisher, Lucy L Brown, Arthur Aron, Greg Strong, Debra Mashek

Download social card

Mentions

206
Peak: 3 in Mar 2020
across 5 sources since Feb 2019

Extended reach

203,486
potential audience

Total likes

5,843

Video views

70,449

Mentions per month

Feb 2019 – Nov 2025

Where it's discussed

  • News131 articles
  • X / Twitter31 posts
  • Blogs23 articles
  • Facebook15 posts
  • YouTube6 videos

AI synopsis

What people are saying

The overall discussions demonstrate high engagement and interest by referencing specific brain regions and scientific studies, such as activation of neural areas related to addiction during romantic rejection, with tone emphasizing the significance of these findings in understanding emotional pain and obsession, which underscores the potential societal impact of framing love as a neurological addiction.

AgreementStrong agreement

Most discussions support the article's findings that love involves brain systems similar to addiction, emphasizing how this view aligns with scientific research on neural activation during rejection.

InterestHigh interest

Posts show high interest by referencing specific studies, neural mechanisms, and psychological implications, indicating engagement with complex scientific concepts.

EngagementHigh engagement

Many comments analyze the neurobiological aspects, compare love rejection to addiction, and cite scientific sources, reflecting deep engagement.

ImpactHigh impact

The discussions highlight how the research influences understanding of love and rejection, suggesting societal and psychological impacts, such as framing heartbreak as an addiction or exploring emotional regulation.

Abstract in brief

  • The study used fMRI to examine how the brain reacts to romantic rejection, focusing on areas involved in reward, craving, and emotion regulation in individuals who still felt love despite being rejected.
  • When viewing photos of their rejecters, participants showed brain activation in regions like the ventral tegmental area, ventral striatum, and orbitofrontal cortex, indicating that romantic passion involves brain systems similar to those engaged in addiction and reward.
  • The findings suggest that rejection activates neural pathways associated with addiction and reward loss, which may underlie obsessive behaviors and intense emotional responses in love rejection, paralleling reactions seen in substance craving or addiction.]

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
Dr Pooja Garg
@poojagarg1111 · X

Studies show that your brain registers the emotional pain of heartbreak in the same way as physical pain, which is why you might feel like your heartbreak is causing actual physical hurt.  https://t.co/23L3SdDgeP

Oct 7, 2021 · 8 likes · 2 shares · 28,040 followers View post →
Sara Younes
@SaraYounes007 · X

The below article shows us that the brain will register our emotional pain due to heartbreak, the same way as physical pain. This is probably why you feel like your heartbreak is causing actual physical pain.

Feb 17, 2021 · 4 likes · 1 share · 72 followers View post →
柚原橙子
@toukorina · X

"Activation of areas involved in cocaine addiction may help explain the obsessive behaviors associated with rejection in love." 原来失恋≈戒毒 https://t.co/Qrpjqwu7sF

Jun 27, 2020 · 3 likes · 7,373 followers View post →
Heba Neam
@NeamHeba · X

و ليس هذا فقط فهذا قد يجعل المخ يمر بتغيرات الإقلاع عن الإدمان،،، في دراسه صدرت سنه ٢٠١٠م في مجله الفسيولوجيا العصبيه بعنوانReward, Addiction, and Emotion Regulation Systems Associated with Rejection in Love المكافأه و الإدمان و انظمه ضبط المشاعر المرتبطه بالرفض في الحب،، ت

Jun 14, 2020 · 1 like · 20,137 followers View post →
emoddicohn320
@emodicon1 · X

Romantic love is an addiction because it shows addiction characteristics such as the lover's intensely focused attention individual, mood swings, obsession, compulsion, distortion of reality, personality changes, risk-taking, and loss of self-control.. https://t.co/vbiH9qgqlQ

Nov 16, 2023 · 1 like · 1,257 followers View post →
Nattha Saravutanukul
@n3nnnnn · X

Reward, Addiction, and Emotion Regulation Systems Associated With Rejection in Love | Journal of Neurophysiology https://t.co/yvEsaneVLz from @APSPhysiology

Aug 3, 2020 · 1 like · 367 followers View post →

All mentions

Rethinking Pain: A New Definition from IASP Insights

The science of why it hurts has evolved. In 2018, the International Association for the Study of Pain revised its definition to emphasize pain as an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience linked to potential tissue…

Annatomy · Apr 12, 2023 416 views
Thodin
@therealthodin · X

@Green_k100 A study, titled "Reward, Addiction, and Emotion Regulation Systems Associated With Rejection in Love" may have one answer to this. In this they concluded that romantic love activates dopamine-driven reward circuits, creating a "natural addiction" that, when disrupted, leads to

Aug 21, 2025 · 877 followers View post →
margot robbie fan account
@Un_Loup_Phoque · X

@maudryansam65 @Honey_Souk cf l’expérience scientifique qui prouve que regarder la photo de son ex peut activer dans le cerveau les mêmes zones que chez un toxicomane en manque https://t.co/Egk5qmxVnx

Jul 30, 2025 · 189 followers View post →
Nico
@Nicolas93793927 · X

@camipple https://t.co/0P5T3NM2Tl

Feb 6, 2024 · 138 followers View post →
jacqueline berry
@jacqberry_berry · X

RT @jacqberry_berry: Reward, addiction, and emotion regulation systems associated with rejection in love https://t.co/pr6Pj5qIcO

Jan 15, 2024 · 1 share · 93 followers View post →
jacqueline berry
@jacqberry_berry · X

Reward, addiction, and emotion regulation systems associated with rejection in love https://t.co/pr6Pj5qIcO

Jan 15, 2024 · 1 like · 1 share · 93 followers View post →
emoddicohn320
@emodicon1 · X

Romantic love is an addiction because it shows addiction characteristics such as the lover's intensely focused attention individual, mood swings, obsession, compulsion, distortion of reality, personality changes, risk-taking, and loss of self-control.. https://t.co/vbiH9qgqlQ

Nov 16, 2023 · 1 like · 1,257 followers View post →
Javi Ciborro
@papayaykware · X

https://t.co/GLembYWEfD Sistemas de recompensa, adicción y regulación emocional asociados al rechazo en el amor

Nov 9, 2023 · 8,032 followers View post →
Muhammad Kamal
@dipanggilkamal · X

[1] 10.1098/rstb.2006.1938 [2] 10.1037/0012-1649.28.5.759 [3] 10.4324/9781351153683-17 [4] 10.1037/0022-3514.64.3.377 [5] 10.1152/jn.00784.2009

Sep 13, 2023 · 385 followers View post →
Mason Kista - UPW Coach
@MasonKista · X

Love & Cocaine: A Suprising Connection Source: https://t.co/uSTMEzd33D #breakup #healing #relationships #love #mindset #motivation #lovemotivation #relationshiptips #relationship #heartbroken #heartbreak #healingjourney #healingprocess #healing #painoflove #loveyourself #trauma https://t.co/rkkozvayo5

Jun 23, 2023 · 2 followers View post →
Nicole
@barcosdepaper · X

@gabyloboc … al aprendizaje. Aparentemente, las personas que son “rechazadas” muestran un comportamiento similar al de unx adictx, entonces, dependiendo de otros factores, pueden reaccionar de muy mala forma (Stalking, por ejemplo). https://t.co/fU8TOz7p59

Feb 15, 2023 · 1 like · 46 followers View post →
ⵣ
@Ahmedection · X

https://t.co/rFx5SyXolM

Nov 5, 2022 · 582 followers View post →
albert v
@_albertv12 · X

Love is a drug, literally. The brain circuits activated when a user goes through withdrawal are the same circuits activated when we go through heartbreak. No wonder people act crazy when they’re in love. We are literal fiends for one another. https://t.co/bwKIaOc2hT

Nov 12, 2021 · 224 followers View post →
Javed Mayo
@JvdMayo · X

RT @poojagarg1111: Studies show that your brain registers the emotional pain of heartbreak in the same way as physical pain, which is why y…

Oct 7, 2021 · 2 shares · 20,519 followers View post →
Rich Hewitt
@richjhewitt · X

RT @poojagarg1111: Studies show that your brain registers the emotional pain of heartbreak in the same way as physical pain, which is why y…

Oct 7, 2021 · 2 shares · 22,001 followers View post →
Dr Pooja Garg
@poojagarg1111 · X

Studies show that your brain registers the emotional pain of heartbreak in the same way as physical pain, which is why you might feel like your heartbreak is causing actual physical hurt.  https://t.co/23L3SdDgeP

Oct 7, 2021 · 8 likes · 2 shares · 28,040 followers View post →
m.
@andiamtaylorfan · X

Reward, Addiction, and Emotion Regulation Systems Associated With Rejection in Love | Journal of Neurophysiology https://t.co/cpcWx65oub

Jun 9, 2021 · 620 followers View post →
Gaya Shnayder
@GayaShnayder · X

RT @SaraYounes007: The below article shows us that the brain will register our emotional pain due to heartbreak, the same way as physical p…

Feb 17, 2021 · 1 share · 9 followers View post →
Sara Younes
@SaraYounes007 · X

The below article shows us that the brain will register our emotional pain due to heartbreak, the same way as physical pain. This is probably why you feel like your heartbreak is causing actual physical pain.

Feb 17, 2021 · 4 likes · 1 share · 72 followers View post →
堀内進之介
@Homocriticos · X

Fisher, H. E., Brown, L. L., Aron, A., Strong, G., & Mashek, D. (2010). Reward, addiction, and emotion regulation systems associated with rejection in love. Journal of Neurophysiology, 104(1), 51-60.

Jan 25, 2021 · 2,779 followers View post →
literalfreak
@pinkdisco444 · X

@ClarkesOtherMom @kelseyhuse30 sure!! here are some links! :) https://t.co/9boTz7da0V https://t.co/6mvg3BYFrT https://t.co/6mvg3BYFrT

Nov 30, 2020 · 31 followers View post →
Pink Wisdom
@Dear_John · X

When someone looks a photo of an ex that rejected them, they show neural activity in cortical and subcortical areas of the brain, associated with craving and addiction. The same part of the brain is activated when someone is craving cocaine. https://t.co/EE9OeZqj6r

Sep 28, 2020 · 8,772 followers View post →
Nattha Saravutanukul
@n3nnnnn · X

Reward, Addiction, and Emotion Regulation Systems Associated With Rejection in Love | Journal of Neurophysiology https://t.co/yvEsaneVLz from @APSPhysiology

Aug 3, 2020 · 1 like · 367 followers View post →
柚原橙子
@toukorina · X

"Activation of areas involved in cocaine addiction may help explain the obsessive behaviors associated with rejection in love." 原来失恋≈戒毒 https://t.co/Qrpjqwu7sF

Jun 27, 2020 · 3 likes · 7,373 followers View post →
Heba Neam
@NeamHeba · X

و ليس هذا فقط فهذا قد يجعل المخ يمر بتغيرات الإقلاع عن الإدمان،،، في دراسه صدرت سنه ٢٠١٠م في مجله الفسيولوجيا العصبيه بعنوانReward, Addiction, and Emotion Regulation Systems Associated with Rejection in Love المكافأه و الإدمان و انظمه ضبط المشاعر المرتبطه بالرفض في الحب،، ت

Jun 14, 2020 · 1 like · 20,137 followers View post →
CalmCris ✨
@CrisGod_ · X

@triple3nadi We can only guess at the psychological reasoning behind this. But this study did find that being rejected stimulates the parts of our brain responsible for motivation, reward, addiction, and craving. Make of that what you will. https://t.co/lm8l9wZ1wD

Apr 17, 2020 · 1 like · 229 followers View post →
Mohammed Helmy
@Mohammed__Helmy · X

Reward, Addiction, and Emotion Regulation Systems Associated With Rejection in Love - PubMed https://t.co/7slueaq7lG

Mar 20, 2020 · 605 followers View post →
Aya Khalaf
@AyaF_Khalaf · X

The fMRI results of the study show that looking at a romantic rejecter and cocaine craving have several neural correlates in common. The findings are consistent with the hypothesis that romantic rejection is a specific form of addiction. https://t.co/xdmtsM7FCD

Mar 17, 2020 · 200 followers View post →
Pink Wisdom
@Dear_John · X

When someone looks a photo of an ex that rejected them, they show neural activity in cortical and subcortical areas of the brain, associated with craving and addiction. The same part of the brain is activated when someone is craving cocaine. Study: https://t.co/szQPT6BxFR

Mar 11, 2020 · 8,772 followers View post →
ulfa
@ulfahbakri · X

@paxdfoot https://t.co/LRMJw7Wfh3 monggo nih, tapi ku rekomendasikan bacanya pas hati agak tenang ya

Dec 19, 2019 · 191 followers View post →
不如楽之者
@prairievole321 · X

RT @SmithLabKU: https://t.co/mX7wU74z2x https://t.co/RJNxYobEz6 https://t.co/EPjue3XmMj https://t.co/N16zeumZdj https://t.co/ZcY1Lh0n5g…

Feb 14, 2019 · 2 shares · 49 followers View post →
Real Vole Facts
@SmithLabKU · X

https://t.co/mX7wU74z2x https://t.co/RJNxYobEz6 https://t.co/EPjue3XmMj https://t.co/N16zeumZdj https://t.co/ZcY1Lh0n5g https://t.co/dOIKpd2ets https://t.co/Jp3X0boWfz https://t.co/bd0zcwTL49 https://t.co/LS5Oe4nXjh https://t.co/qYzJXHXR9O

Feb 14, 2019 · 2 shares · 326 followers View post →