The Science of Kissing

Kissing remains popular among the people of the world, and in a new book former scibling Sheril Kirshenbaum delves into the emerging science behind the age-old practice. For one, the sensory experience of osculation (as sucking face is more formally known) forges new neuronal connections in the brain. On Dean's Corner, Dr. Jeffrey Toney says "these new connections represent learning, memory and can enhance sensory perception and even healing." We at Scienceblogs recommend five to nine servings a day. Dr. Toney also shares a video which demonstrates affection throughout the animal kingdom, including among bonobos, who are known to exercise their synapses in the French style. Sheril provides other insights in a 2009 post on The Intersection, writing that "up to ten percent of humanity doesn't even touch lips" and kissing "may have evolved from primates feeding their babies mouth-to-mouth." If that doesn't quite set the mood, maybe some Marvin Gaye will do.

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We cannot imagine what is not plausible...or...probable...or possible...but the real outcome need not match the imagined identity...for our imagination is only a memeplasm that is interactive with its environment for blossoming...and...whoever - the first guy or gal - had imagined of a kiss...and...gone ahead with his or her experiment...has triggered on a smorgasbord of osculatory memes within a matrix or matrices of plausibility/probability/possibility...which obviously has/have given us a variety of kisses...how our ancestors had become conscious of the osculationary imagination is the key to begin with undestanding kissing's history...though now we are far more aware of the genetic/memetic depths of this biolgical/cultural act...still...if Sheril Kirshenbaum opines that 'feeling defies explanation'...then the appropriate question should be: can genes tell us how exactly they give rise to memes ? (a meme is not a scientific equivalent of a gene but still its an efficacious conceptual tool ...)Bye!

By m s dinakar (not verified) on 21 Feb 2011 #permalink