Unlock the science of kissing with Quirks & Quarks

First aired on Quirks & Quarks (01/22/11)

The lights are turned down low and the romantic music is playing in the background. You close your eyes, pucker up and get ready.

And that's exactly when Sheril Kirshenbaum wants to shove you into an MRI machine or a PET scanner.

Kirshenbaum is the author of The Science of Kissing, a new book that explores the neuroscience, biology and anthropology of lip lock — from its evolutionary role and genetic roots to some practical advice on how to perfect your technique.

A science blogger and a research scientist at the University of Texas at Austin, Kirshenbaum first wrote about the science of kissing in a short blog post for Discover magazine. The response to the piece, Kirshenbaum says, was overwhelming.

That's not surprising. After all, kissing is a near universal behaviour with a broad appeal. From birth, through proms and weddings, and up to our last moments, a kiss is often the act that accompanies our most significant events in life.

As Kirshenbaum explains, that has a lot to do with the fact that our lips have more nerve endings and activate more parts of the brain than our genitals. A good kiss will create a spike in oxytocin, the so-called "love hormone," which plays a role in feelings of attachment. It will also trigger a rise in seratonin, which may be responsible for the feeling that you can't stop thinking about the other person.

"It's almost like nature's litmus test," Kirshenbaum told host Bob McDonald in a recent interview on Quirks & Quarks. "There's so much that we can tell about compatibility with someone else, even on a subconscious level, based on everything from scent, to taste, to possibly a little insight into the other person's genetics and how that might work down the line in terms of reproduction."

Of course, not everyone kisses, and the cultural history of the act is explored here as well. But for those of us who do, The Science of Kissing has some tips on how to leave your partner weak in the knees. The secret? According to Kirshenbaum, that has a lot to do with establishing a comfortable environment and recognizing the needs and desires of the other person. In other words, don't worry too much about technique.

"The best kisser might not have the best technique down to an art, but really have a sense of making the other person feel very special and understanding that there is a connection between them," she said.

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