Author(s)

Year

Case

number

Results

Conclusions

1. Romantic love

Takahashi et al.

2015 [23]

6 men and 4 women

visual stimulation of partner’s photo increased the dopamine dynamics at the mOFC and mPC in lovers who committed romantic relationship for 2 to 125 months

dopaminergic D2/D3 modulates the rewarding experience of romance in both early and late phase of romantic relationship

Marazziti et al. 2016 [30]

30 in-lovers less than and 30 in-lovers more than 6 months relationship; women and men are equal in both groups

lymphocytic DAT decreased whereas DA in early phase than late phase of relationship

increase of DA though a suppression of DAT occurs in early phase of relationship

Marazziti et al. 1999 [31]

20 in-lovers less than 6 months relationship, 20 OCD patients, 20 non-lover

platelet SERT decreased in in-lovers and OCD patients than non-lovers

increase of 5HT though a suppression of SERT occurs in early phase of relationship

Marazziti et al. 2014 [37]

123 women and 69 men with depression

SSRIs had a significant negative impact on the feelings of love and attachment towards the partner especially in men, while women taking TCAs complained of more sexual adversity than men.

SSRI can disturb romantic love

Syvertsen et al. 2015 [39]

161 couples

methamphetamine usage in female sex workers reduced the love score to their male intimate partners and vice versa.

romantic love is vulnerable to central modulating drugs

2. Romantic relationship

Masarik et al. 2014 [32]

352 adolescence

ANKK1/DRD2 and DAT polymorphism independently predict a continuity of hostility from parenting to partner, whereas the DRD4 polymorphism of positive engagement

genetic background relates in human response to environmental stress in both positive and negative emotion.

Raby et al.

2013 [33]

74 female and 69 male adolescence

attachment continuity relates to OXTR G/G genotype only

infantile attachment to romantic attachment is modulated by the OXTR but not DRD4 or 5-HTTLPR