Lovers Hearts Beat in Unison
May 2nd, 2017
The German saying “Verliebte ticken gleich” reflects that lovers are in line with each other. There is, in fact, a proven story behind it. The love and togetherness of a couple has various effects on our body, behavior, and even heart.
An intense feeling of love can activate certain areas of the brain that control the perception of pain. Something as simple as holding hands can alleviate pain.
Being in love activates areas of the brain that trigger the feeling of euphoria.
Not only are the hearts of a couple in sync: partners walk in unison. Men, in particular, adjust the speed at which they walk to match that of their female partner, making them slower.
In addition to a similar heartbeat and walking pace, couples tend to imitate the tone of one another’s voices to express their affection and togetherness.
People who are in a stable, happy relationship ward off looks from attractive people. This behavior is known as an “attention bias.”
Men in love are more often ready to take an unnecessary risk for their partner.
People in love have a more difficult time concentrating, as a large amount of their cognitive resources are devoted to their partner.
Scientifically Proven – Lovers hearts beat in unison.
An experiment from the University of California Davis measured the heart rate and breathing pattern of couples. It was found that the hearts of the pairs beat in unison, and that their breathing patterns had also synchronized.
32 couples were evaluated. The couples sat in a cool, calm room a few centimeters apart from one another. They were not allowed to speak or move. However, they were to mimic each other and perform various activities while their heart rates and breathing were assessed. The couples were then separated from one other and were mixed with other couples. The newly paired couples then performed the same activities. The results clearly showed a difference between the two groups: in contrast to the couples, the breathing and heart rates of the newly mixed pairs did not adapt.
One explanation from scientists for this synchronization lies in the length of the relationship. Being in a long-term relationship gives couples security, which is fostered by endorphins. It was also found that women adjust their breathing to match that of their partners, and not the other way around. The explanation for this lies in the pronounced ability of women to feel empathy for their partner. The origin of this likely has to do with evolution, as women better adjust to the needs and emotions of their children than men.
With your hearts already beating in harmony, why not do something together to improve the status of both of your heart’s health? Check your heart rate, rhythm, and circulation as a couple. Learn more about our Partner Special.