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The Power of Love

Curious Cases Rutherford and Fry

How does love affect our brain? Science sleuths Drs Rutherford and Fry investigate. From February 2020.

Two questions about love and heartbreak in this episode for our Valentine's special edition.

Jessica Glasco, aged 29, wrote in to ask about the power of love and how it affects our brain.

Hannah tracks down Dr Helen Fisher, who conducted some of the first MRI studies on love by putting besotted couples into the brain scanner.

Adam talks to broadcaster Claudia Hammond, author of Emotional Rollercoaster, to find out how psychologists have grappled with the messy business of love. And we hear why a small furry vole was thought to hold the answer to the mystery of monogamy.

Our second question concerns the pain of heartbreak - why does our heart ache? Can emotional hurt cause physical pain? On call is our very own agony aunt, Irene Tracey, Prof of Pain Research.

Presenters: Hannah Fry, Adam Rutherford
Producer: Michelle Martin

First broadcast on 大象传媒 Radio 4 in 2020.

Available now

35 minutes

Last on

Thu 7 Apr 2022 21:45
大象传媒 Radio 4 Extra

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The Growling StomachRutherford and Fry

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Two Infinities and Beyond - part 1Rutherford and Fry

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Broadcasts

  • Wed 12 Feb 2020 09:30
    大象传媒 Radio 4
  • Wed 12 Feb 2020 20:45
    大象传媒 Radio 4
  • Sat 15 Feb 2020 05:45
    大象传媒 Radio 4
  • Sun 3 Apr 2022 10:45
    大象传媒 Radio 4 Extra
  • Sun 3 Apr 2022 21:45
    大象传媒 Radio 4 Extra
  • Thu 7 Apr 2022 11:45
    大象传媒 Radio 4 Extra
  • Thu 7 Apr 2022 21:45
    大象传媒 Radio 4 Extra

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    Hannah Fry and Dara 脫 Briain tackle listeners' conundrums with the power of science!