Love is in the air this February at LHS as Valentine’s Day draws nearer, but is it actually in the air? Research in psychology and human physiology suggests the answer is yes.

Humans may subconsciously detect major histocompatibility complex genes, or MHC genes through scent. The MHC is a group of genes that help the immune system detect foreign substances. People often prefer the smell of those with different immune systems than their own, which can be beneficial for strong future offspring. From scent alone, we can subconsciously form impressions of someone’s attractiveness.

But smell isn’t the only factor. Years of research show that initial attraction is supported by its own unique chemical rules. When someone experiences romantic attraction, they may begin to sweat, their heart may beat a little faster, and they may blush. Dr.Sandra Langeslag, a biological psychologist at the University of Missouri-St. Louis said that these effects stem from the hypothalamus, a small sector of the brain responsible for your automatic nervous system, which triggers the release of adrenaline into the bloodstream during a fight or flight situation. 

There’s also a third contributor that makes an impact on attraction. Because of the way humans can quickly interpret nonverbal signals, situations called I-sharing can arise. I-sharing is the fleeting moment in which two people experience the same subjective reality. This phenomenon creates an instant connection between two people by temporarily eliminating feelings of existential loneliness.

 For example, if you’ve ever been sitting at a cafe and something funny happens and you make eye contact with someone having the same reaction, maybe it’s a smile, a laugh, a gasp, that trivial moment can have a lasting impact, showing you that someone else can see the world in the same way you do.

Regardless of biological factors, however, research shows that these initial cues of attraction do not reliably predict the strength of a future connection between two people. While initial attraction burns hot and fast, deep emotional connection and understanding of another person is what leads to healthy long term relationships.