Author explains the science of kissing

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Updated: March 13, 2012 8:11AM

With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, kissing may be a hot topic for many. For the curious, Sheril Kirshenbaum, the 31-year-old author of The Science of Kissing, talks about her book, which explores the properties of puckering up.

Q. What got you interested in the subject of kissing?

A. Four years ago, I wrote a short article on the science of kissing — why our species evolved to kiss each other and the hormones that go into it — for a magazine called New Scientist. There was a lot of interest, and there wasn’t a book on the topic.

Q. When did humans start kissing?

A. Hard to say. The earliest literary evidence is found in Indian Sanskrit documents and dates back to 1500 B.C. There was wording like “the young lord drank the lips of the slave woman,” for example. I would guess that kissing has been around as long as we have.

Q. Is kissing a part of most cultures today?

A. There is a strong social component related to how kissing is accepted. But with globalization, it’s been transferred more. In the 1970s, more than 90 percent of cultures kissed mouth to mouth. That figure is likely higher today.

Q. What is the brain’s reaction to a kiss?

A. There’s a lot that can happen, depending on if it’s a positive experience or not. Assuming it’s a good exchange, there’s a rise in dopamine, which is the same neurotransmitter that makes you want to do more — a similar effect occurs when people use cocaine. Serotonin is a hormone that increases obsessive-compulsive thoughts and is also present in kissing. Oxytocin, a chemical and hormone that promotes bonding, not just in romantic relationships, but also between mothers and babies, is also flowing.

There’s a real scientific reason behind the feelings people describe when kissing, like, “I’m walking on air.” There’s a real chemical basis to falling in love.

Q. Why not just hug? What’s so different about kissing?

A. There’s so much going on — we’re tasting, smelling, engaging our senses. It tells us a lot about the situation, if it’s a positive experience or not. Women often say kissing is a way to tell where the relationship is going, and many people remember their first kiss more than their first sexual encounter.

Q. Are we talking about just a peck or some serious smooching?

A. All of it matters. Our lips are packed with sensitive nerve endings. When you look at the amount of our brains involved in the sense of touch, our lips are very overrepresented.

Q. Are there links between frequent kissers and long relationships?

A. I think there’s a lot of ground to cover between showing the positive effects of kissing and relationship longevity. But there has been a lot of survey work that shows a correlation between kissing and the quality of relationships. To take the time and foster that connection with someone else can’t be a bad thing.

Q. Does it ever get awkward to talk about?

A. I think at this point, I’ve immersed myself in the topic so much. It’s been more embarrassing for my poor husband. But kissing is something we all do, and we don’t think too much about it. This book gives you more insight into why it matters.

Gannett News Service