‎”Rekla je još, da joj je lakše što zna kad cu otici, da sam Maslacak, i da bi inace vecito brinula koji ce me vetar oduvati.Verovala je da se samo oni koji se rastanu poljupcem mogu ponovo sastati, jednom i negde, i molila me je da ni slucajno ne odem ne dozvolivši da me isprati na stanicu.A upravo sam to uradio.
Da, nek me djavo nosi…Nisam bio nimalo dobar prema njoj…”

psydoctor8:

Suicide Cells

Researchers find that people have have committed suicide have more of a particular kind of neuron -call von Economo neurons- which are believed to be an import cell for social emotions, maybe even empathy and guilt.

These cells bear receptors for neuro­transmitters that help to regulate emotion, such as dopamine, serotonin and vasopressin. Because they are found in highly gregarious animals such as whales, elephants and apes—with humans possessing the highest densities—scientists believe they might specifically deal with complex social emotions such as shame. (via)

The density of VENs (von Economo neurons) was significantly greater in the ACC of suicide victims with psychotic disorders compared with psychotic individuals who died from other causes. This effect was restricted to the right ACC. VEN density in the ACC seems to be increased in suicide victims with psychosis. This finding may support the assumption that VEN have a special role in emotion processing and self-evaluation, including negative self-appraisal. 

Full article here.

My research now is about the lack of empathy relating to cruelty to others and what neural correlates are involved -so I have to wonder to what degree would a significant absence of these von Economo neurons explain the low levels of empathy in psychopaths, sociopaths, narcissists, and people with borderline personality disorder?

Our favorite description of love is from the movie Captain Corelli’s Mandolin: 

 When you fall in love, it is a temporary madness. It erupts like an earthquake, and then it subsides. And when it subsides, you have to make a decision. You have to work out whether your roots are become so entwined together that it is inconceivable that you should ever part. Because this is what love is. Love is not breathlessness, it is not excitement, it is not the desire to mate every second of the day. It is not lying awake at night imagining that he is kissing every part of your body. No… don’t blush. I am telling you some truths. For that is just being in love; which any of us can convince ourselves we are. Love itself is what is left over, when being in love has burned away…