This program examines the complexity of the emotion we call love, from the burning desire that can strike suddenly, to the giddy euphoria of falling in love.What is the incredible bond a mother feels for her infant, and how does it relate to the feeling couples may have after a lifetime of living together?

Anthropologist Helen Fisher of Rutgers University takes us through the three very different emotions that are often grouped under the word “love,” namely, lust, romantic love, and attachment. Attachment is what may happen with couples after romantic love has passed, and it enriches their lives. Neuroscientist Charles Nelson explains the role of the prefrontal cortex in the “uncontrollable” love typical of teenagers. In Italy studies are being done on “love junkies”, those who are addicted to falling in love but unable to make meaningful attachments. Parental love is explored by Richard Davidson, University of Wisconsin. The film shows how different areas of the brain are activated by neurotransmitters to evoke the emotion called love, which gives us the most profound sense of our humanity.