These feelings persist over time. Studies seem to suggest that the moment you fall in love, provided that the relationship continues to be satisfying, thinking about your partner will not just make you feel good. At the same time, it can also help buffer against stress, pain, and all sorts of negative emotions and feelings.

Even if it is still early, those giddy initial stages of romantic love might feel somewhat different from the kind of love that has already been nurtured through the years. However, the human brain might not necessarily be able to identify the difference.