Love Drug

Valentine's Day may be over for another year but romance is still very much in the air.

Join Callum and Yvonne as they discuss some of the eternal mysteries of love and relationships. Are we really in control of our emotions when it comes to choosing a partner or can it all be down to chemicals? Listen to the programme to find out more.

This week's question: In 1991, Minnie Munro became the world's oldest bride aged 102. But how old was her groom - the man she married. Was he:

Listen to the programme
Love drug

a) 97
b) 80 or
c) 83

Listen out for the answer at the end of the programme!

Vocabulary from the programme:
Show All | Hide All
neuroscience
the study of the nervous system, its structure, how it works and the diseases it is affected by
prairie
large, open spaces of flat, grassy land
voles
small, furry mammals like mice with smaller ears and shorter tails, often found in fields and near rivers
a surge
a sudden and great increase in the amount of something
a compound
in chemistry, a substance which consists of two or more elements or other substances
an antidote
usually a drug or chemical that is used to stop something bad from happening or to lessen the effects of something.

Example sentence: 'She was bitten by a snake, but luckily, they had the correct antidote at the hospital.'

to determine
find out, predict, conclude
a pre-disposition to something
a leaning towards
a matching-making agency
a company which charges people money to help them find their perfect partner, husband or wife


SCIPT
BBC Learning English
6 Minute English
Love Drug


Yvonne: Hi, this is ‘6 Minute English’ with Yvonne Archer and joining me today is
Callum Robertson. Hello Callum!

Callum: Hello Yvonne.

Yvonne: Thanks for joining me. Now today, we'll hear a report about some research
which might help to explain some of the mysteries of love - such as why we
fall in love. But first, I've a question for you – as usual. Are you ready?

Callum: Oh yes!

Yvonne: Good. In 1991, Minnie Munro became the world's oldest bride aged 102. But
how old was her groom – the man she married? Was he:
a) 97
b) 80 or
c) 83

Callum: This is just going to have to be a guess; she's 102 - I'll say he was 97.

Yvonne: OK – we'll find out later on whether you're right or wrong later on.

Larry Young is a professor of neuroscience – that's the study of the structure of
the nervous system, how it works and the diseases that can cause it problems.
Professor Young, based at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia in the United
States, used prairie voles to find out why people fall in love. But what are
'prairie voles' Callum?

6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2008
Page 2 of 4

Callum: Well, a 'vole' is a very small animal which looks like a mouse but it has smaller
ears and a short tail. And 'voles' usually live in fields near rivers but the ones
from Professor Young's study live on 'the prairies' - large areas of flat, grassy
land in North America. So they're known as 'prairie voles'.

Yvonne: Okay. Now for some scientific language. What is meant by 'surges of
chemical'?

Callum: A 'surge' in something is a sudden, great increase in it - so 'surges of chemical'
are large, sudden increases in the amounts of a chemical.

Yvonne: And finally, what is 'a compound' in terms of chemistry?

Callum: Well that's a substance – something that contains more than one element. So if
there are two or more chemicals in a substance, it's 'a compound' substance.

Yvonne: Thanks, Callum. Now it's time to hear that report from the BBC's Science
Correspondent, Pallab Ghosh. As we listen, try to find out why Professor
Young decided to study prairie voles to help with his research.

PALLAB GHOSH
His studies on prairie voles which like humans, form lifelong relationships, has led him to
believe that this most powerful of human emotions is governed by surges of chemicals,
including a compound called oxytocin.

Yvonne: So Professor Young believes that the love we feel is 'governed' or caused by
great and sudden increases in the amount of oxytocin in us – a chemical. But
why did Professor Young study prairie voles to help with his research, Callum?

Callum: Well, because they're like human beings in their relationships. They stay with
the same partner throughout their lives, so they form 'lifelong' relationships –
just like married people.
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2008
Page 3 of 4


Yvonne: Ahh…

Now in the next part of today's report, we'll hear how Professor Young
believes that there's a possibility that the chemical oxytocin could also be used
in two other ways. Firstly, 'an antidote' for the broken hearted. Unfortunately,
most of know what that means, but what is meant by 'an antidote', Callum?

Callum: 'An antidote' is usually a drug or a chemical which lessens or reverses the bad
effects of something or stops something bad from happening to us. For
example, the antidote to a snake bite could stop someone dying from the
snake's poison. And an antidote for the broken hearted could help those people
feel less tearful and sad.

Yvonne: We'll also hear how Professor Young believes that a 'genetic love test' could
also be developed 'to determine' – to find out - who has 'a pre-disposition to a
happy married life'. Callum, in a nutshell – what's meant by that?

Callum: Well, a genetic love test would basically tell us who was born with the
qualities and personality that people really need to be a great husband or wife!

Yvonne: Hmm – so an antidote for the broken hearted - plus a love test to find out who's
really suited to marriage. But who would use a genetic love test?

PALLAB GHOSH
Professor Young believes it would equally be possible to develop an antidote to love for the
heartbroken and he says there's even the prospect of a genetic love test where matchmaking
agencies would attempt to determine a person's pre-disposition to a happy married life.

Yvonne: So Callum, who does Professor Young think would use the genetic love test?
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2008
Page 4 of 4

Callum: Matchmaking agencies – companies that charge people money to help them
find their perfect partner - a husband or a wife.

Yvonne: Hmph! Well, I certainly look forward to any further developments with interest!
But now, today's big question! In 1991, Minnie Munro became the world's
oldest bride at age 102. But how hold was her groom? And what was your
answer, Callum?

Callum: Well, I had a guess at 97.

Yvonne: Eeee… He was actually 83.

Callum: Oh right, so nearly twenty years' difference!

Yvonne: And Minnie may have found her man a little sooner if a genetic love test had
been available, don't you think?

Callum: Ummm - possibly!

Yvonne: Anyway, that's all we've got time for on today's "6 Minute English". Do join
BBC Learning English again for more!

C/Y: Goodbye!