Love at first sight may be real–and may inspire a booty call before a relationship. | Source

A new study proves something most of humanity figured out already on their own: If you’re trying to find love at first sight, you might want to start with lust. What does it all mean? That a booty call does have a possibility to turn into romance–if you both want it to. Surprise! (Not really, though.)

We think the whole thing is kinda silly, honestly. Obviously you likely won’t be in love at first sight with someone that you’re not attracted to, so the fact that you might want to jump someone’s bones before you decide to say the “L” word isn’t too shocking to anyone. If you’re trying to find love, often the first step is finding someone to whom you’re sexually attracted–so why are we wasting money studying this at all? Sure, you can often want sex without love, but the idea that they sometimes overlap with lust coming before love isn’t necessarily groundbreaking. Isn’t it kind of basic, common sense thinking?

Listen, sometimes you want dessert before dinner. Your mom may nag that it’ll spoil your appetite, but guess what? When the ice cream and brownies are gone, if you’re hungry enough, you’ll eat your vegetables, right? Because sweets make you feel good for a little while, then make you sleepy, but don’t necessarily make you feel full or healthy. Same idea.

The only really new revelations are scientists’ of discoveries the workings of the brain behind this–and we gotta admit, it’s kinda cool. If you or your dude try to find love through some nooky, you can blame your insula and your striatum.

Your insula is located deep within your cerebral cortex in your brain, and it influences your emotions pretty strongly and sends messages to the striatum. Keep that in mind when you read the rest!

Apparently when you have an orgasm–or an awesome dessert (no, really!)–a spark sort of ignites in a part of your brain called the ventral striatum, which is your brain’s “reward center.” Nice! Meanwhile, love triggers activity in the dorsal striatum, which is a different section of the same brain part (got all that?). The dorsal striatum is the part of your brain that’s actually associated with drug addiction. Sounds scary, right? This explains why sometimes if a dude is insane and stupid enough to break your heart (he clearly must have really crappy taste), you feel like you literally can’t help but keep calling or texting him–because you’re essentially going through withdrawal symptoms!

Scientists found that the two triggered parts of striatum overlapped–meaning, when someone was horny, they got romantic, and that when people are trying to find love, they can get pretty turned on. But dude, isn’t that usually how it works, though? If nothing else, it may explain all the babies conceived on Valentine’s Day.

If you’re trying to find love, it may start in your head–and other places–before your heart. | Source

What’s more, love and sexual arousal also overlap in your insula. This also explains a little old phenomenon called “love at first sight.”

Of course, this all doesn’t necessarily mean you should bone anyone who comes your way if you’re trying to find love. Anyone you’re having sex with should like you and respect you as a person. We’re just saying that sometimes people get laid before they get serious, and as long as you’re responsible and safe, there’s nothing really wrong with that.

The gist of this whole she-bang? If you want to find love at first sight, it may simply begin as a booty call. And that’s okay!

Do you believe in love at first sight? Have you ever had a booty call? What’s the best way to find love? Tell us in the comments!