At the Society for Personality and Social Psychology (SPSP) conference in Austin, Barbara Fredrickson of the University of North Carolina discussed her new research that shows how love affects us not only psychologically but also physiologically. She pointed to vital, fleeting “micro-moments” in which we connect with others. The more you experience micro-moments, the more it will change you for the better.
Take the case of the vagus nerve, which, in part, regulates our emotions and is responsible for associated changes in our heartbeat. The nerve calms our racing hearts after a fight and helps keep our hearts on a healthy rhythm. It affects the body’s ability to regulate glucose and our biological capacity for connection, Fredrickson said. Her research has found that increasing micro-moments boosts the functioning of the vagus nerve.