Attachment and romantic relationships are a cornerstone of human social experience, influencing emotional well-being, stress regulation, and overall health. Decades of neuroscientific research have revealed core neural structures, neurotransmitter systems, and endocrine processes that underlie romantic and parental attachment (e.g., Bartels & Zeki, 2004; Aron et al., 2005; Fisher et al., 2006; Acevedo et al., 2011). Despite exciting discoveries, key questions remain unanswered, and new methodological advances offer unprecedented opportunities to probe the mechanisms of love and attachment from multiple angles. Indeed, much remains to be understood and discovered. This special topic in Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience, Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, and Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience invites contributions that explore the neurobiology of attachment relationships and related processes using cutting-edge techniques, theoretical frameworks, and interdisciplinary approaches. For example, integrating epigenetics, metabolomics, and behavioral genetics can provide a deeper understanding of how life experiences, environmental factors, and biological processes converge in shaping attachment and relationship dynamics. We encourage authors to consider the following themes, while remaining open to other proposals of relevant topics, as well as research articles, meta-analyses, reviews, theoretical, and case study papers.

Potential Topics of Interest:

1. Epigenetics and genetics in attachment and romantic relationships

• Epigenetic modifications associated with attachment formation or maintenance.

• Influence of early-life stress or caregiving experiences on romantic attachment via epigenetic pathways.

• Interaction between genetics, environment, and developmental factors in shaping adult romantic behavior.

2. Psychoneuroendocrinology of love and attachment

• Role of hormones and neuropeptides (e.g., oxytocin, vasopressin, dopamine) in acute romantic attraction and long-term bonding.

• Impact of stress hormones on relationship satisfaction and stability over time.

• Developmental and sex-related differences in neuroendocrine responses to romantic attachment.

3. Metabolomics and biomarkers of attachment and love

• Novel metabolomic approaches to uncover biomarkers that correlate with different stages of romantic love (initial attraction, passionate love, long-term commitment).

• Interplay between immune function, metabolism, and relationship quality.

• Use of advanced technologies (e.g., mass spectrometry, metabolomic profiling) to identify and characterize molecular changes during romantic bonding.

4. Integrative and translational perspectives

• Transdisciplinary approaches combining neuroimaging, behavioral genetics, and psychophysiology to investigate romantic relationships.

• Translational applications for enhancing relationship resilience, improving mental health, or informing couple therapy.

• Cross-cultural investigations examining whether and how neurobiological mechanisms of romantic love vary across different cultural and social contexts.

We welcome original research articles, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, methods papers, theoretical perspectives, and case study reports that address the neurobiology of attachment and romantic relationships. Submissions should be grounded in rigorous methodology and should state clearly how the study advances the current state of knowledge. We especially encourage interdisciplinary and cross-sector collaborations that integrate insights from fields such as developmental psychology, molecular biology, affective neuroscience, evolutionary biology, and clinical medicine.

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The neurobiology of personal relationships