A study from Brigham Young University recently reported that a happy marriage could lower your blood pressure. Now neuroscience is noticing that marriage can make you smarter, too.
In the early stages of a relationship (that first, exciting rush of love), your brain might not be in the right state for intellectual pursuits. A lot of the beginnings of love are driven by the euphoric feelings that come from dopamine — a brain chemical that produces powerful, pleasurable feelings. As relationships mature, dopamine levels become less important and other parts of the brain are engaged.
In the later stages of love, researchers see relationship-related brain activity in the cortex — the place where we store information and make rational decisions. Trying new things together can strengthen your emotional bond with your spouse!
Need some ideas for new activities to try and things to learn? You don’t need to take on huge projects in order to benefit. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
- Learn a language together. You’ll have fun working new words and phrases into everyday conversations.
- Boost your vocabulary. Buy a word-a-day calendar or sign up for Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day email service. Use each day’s word in a note or email to your spouse.
- Watch movies together and discuss them afterwards. Men and women use different areas of their brains when watching movies — so your partner will have a different perspective on the film.
- Invite a diverse group of people over for a dinner party. Afterwards, discuss the people and events — areas of the brain that are used for learning and memory are stimulated by social interaction. And just like with movies, you might be surprised at the different things you each notice about the same people.
- Teach each other a new skill. Learn something your wife loves, then teach her something you love.
- Take up a new physical activity together — try a dance class or a martial arts class. The mental and physical challenge together will be a great workout for body and brain.