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The Power of Love

Curious CasesSeries 15
Episode 2 of 6

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 BBC Radio 4 in 2020.

Available now

35 minutes

Last on

Thu 7 Apr 202221:45
BBC Radio 4 Extra

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Broadcasts

  • Wed 12 Feb 202009:30
    BBC Radio 4
  • Wed 12 Feb 202020:45
    BBC Radio 4
  • Sat 15 Feb 202005:45
    BBC Radio 4
  • Sun 3 Apr 202210:45
    BBC Radio 4 Extra
  • Sun 3 Apr 202221:45
    BBC Radio 4 Extra
  • Thu 7 Apr 202211:45
    BBC Radio 4 Extra
  • Thu 7 Apr 202221:45
    BBC Radio 4 Extra

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  • Curious Cases

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