Transcriptional correlates of falling in love

Genome-wide transcriptome profiling of 111 peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) collected from 47 young women over the course of a 2-year longitudinal study of new romantic relationships. To characterize the impact of romantic love on human genome function, we conducted genome-wide transcriptome profiling of 111 samples of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) collected from 47 young women over the course of a 2-year longitudinal study of new romantic relationships. Eligibility criteria included, 1) heterosexual female, 2) not pregnant or breastfeeding, 3) non-smoker, 4) no immune, cardiovascular, or psychiatric medication, 5) planning to remain in city for 6 mo, 6) in an exclusive (monogamous) romantic relationship for < 1 mo, and, 7) not yet in love with their partner. Following a baseline blod draw and survey, participants completed twice-monthly brief surveys until, 1) they reported falling in love with their partner, 2) they reported they and their partner had broken up, 3) they were selected as a yoked control participant for another participant that had fallen in love, or 4) 12 mo had elapsed. Any of these events triggered a 2nd blood sample and comprehensive survey. For those who had broken up, participation concluded after the 2nd blood draw. Those still in relationships continued to complete bi-weekly brief surveys until they either reported a break-up, they reported falling in love (if they were not in love at blood draw 2), or 12 mo had elapsed after blood draw 2. Participants were scheduled for a 3rd blood draw and comprehensive survey after any of these events . Brief surveys assessed whether participants were in love with their partner (0=no;1=yes), sexual behavior (e.g., sexual intercourse frequency per week, oral sex frequency per week, semen exposure [0=no;1=yes]) and self-reported illness symptoms (0=none;1=present).