Fisher discusses three brain systems that evolved for mating and reproduction: the sex drive; romantic love; and partner attachment. She focuses on her colleagues and her brain scanning research (using fMRI) on romantic passion, rejection in love and love addiction. Then, using her additional fMRI data and a questionnaire taken by 14+ million people to explore four broad basic styles of thinking and behaving associated with four primary brain systems--the dopamine, serotonin, testosterone and estrogen systems—and the role these temperament dimensions play in mate choice, relationship issues and partner compatibility. She concludes with discussion of the neural foundations of long-term partnership attachment and marital happinessand the future of relationships in the digital age—what she calls “slow love.”
Speaker Bio
Helen Fisher PhD, a biological anthropologist, is Senior Research Fellow at The Kinsey Institute, Member of the Center for Human Evolutionary Studies, Rutgers University and Chief Scientific Advisor to Match.com. Fisher has written six internationally best-selling books on romantic love and future sex, including: WHY WE LOVE; WHY HIM? WHY HER?; and ANATOMY OF LOVE (2ND ed). She is a TED All-Star and a recipient of the American Anthropological Association’sDistinguished Service Award for her work at presenting anthropological data to the public. Her Curriculum Vita at www.helenfisher.com lists her publications and speaking activities.
Thursday, January 16
6:30-8:30 pm
Dinner will be served
Vanderbilt Suites, 200 Park Avenue (enter on Vanderbilt and 44th Street or thgouth Grand Central)