K I S S

A common sign of affection throughout all societies.

I hope, you guys, don't mind.

Anyone who has ever been kissed knows that the sensations involved aren't confined to the mouth. Your facial nerve carries impulses between your brain and the muscles and skin in your face and tongue. While you kiss, it carries messages from your lips, tongue and face to your brain to tell it what's going on. Your brain responds by ordering your body to produce:

• Oxytocin, which helps people develop feelings of attachment, devotion and affection for one another
• Dopamine, which plays a role in the brain's processing of emotions, pleasure and pain
• Serotonin, which affects a person's mood and feelings
• Adrenaline, which increases heart rate and plays a role in your body's fight-or-flight response

When you kiss, these hormones and neurotransmitters rush through your body. Along with natural endorphins. In addition, blood vessels dilate, so your whole body receives more oxygen than it does when you're just standing around.