But it's actually your brain running a complex series of calculations within a matter of seconds that's responsible for determining attraction.

但事實上那是你的大腦在幾秒內進行了一連串複雜的運算， 因此產生這種決定性的吸引力。

Doesn't sound quite as poetic, does it?

聽起來不太有詩意，對吧？

But just because the calculations are happening in your brain, doesn't mean those warm, fuzzy feelings are all in your head.

即使所有的運算都發生在你的大腦中，並不代表那些溫暖、難以捉摸的感覺都發生在你的腦內。

In fact, all five of your senses play a role.

事實上，你五感都參與其中。

Each able to vote for or veto a budding attraction.

每個感官都能贊同或否決一個剛萌發的吸引力。

The eyes are the first components in attraction.

視覺是構成吸引力的第一個要素。

Many visual beauty standards vary between cultures and eras,

許多視覺上的美的標準會因相異的文化及時代而有所不同，

and signs of youth, fertility, and good health, such as long lustrous hair, or smooth, scar-free skin, are almost always in demand because they're associated with reproductive fitness.

而年輕、有繁殖力與健康良好的象徵，例如亮麗的長髮，或者是平滑沒有傷疤的皮膚，幾乎總是必備的因為他們和生殖能力有關。

And when the eyes spot something they like, our instinct is to move closer, so the other senses can investigate.

當眼睛發現他們喜歡的東西時，我們的直覺便是靠得更近，因此其他感官才能夠查看。

The nose's contribution to romance is more than noticing perfume or cologne.

嗅覺對於浪漫愛情的貢獻不止是聞到香水或古龍水。

It's able to pick up on natural chemical signals known as pheromones.

它還能分辨出天然的化學信號，稱之為費洛蒙。

These not only convey important physical or genetic information about their source, but are able to activate a physiological or behavioral response in the recipient.

費洛蒙除了傳遞關於它們來源的身體及基因的資訊外，還能夠促使接受者產生生理上或者行為上的反應。

In one study, a group of women at different points in their ovulation cycles wore the same t-shirts for three nights.

在一項研究中，一群在經期不同階段的女性穿著同款的T恤三個晚上。

After male volunteers were randomly assigned to smell either one of the worn shirts, or a new unworn one,

在男性志願者被隨機指派去聞被穿過的衣服，或去聞沒被穿過的新衣後，

saliva samples showed an increase in testosterone in those who had smelled a shirt worn by an ovulating woman.

唾液樣本顯示， 聞過被排卵期女性穿過的衣服的樣本的男生，他們的睪丸素增加了。

Such a testosterone boost may give a man the nudge to pursue a woman he might not have otherwise noticed.

這種睪丸素的提升，可以促使男性去追求除此種方式以外他不太可能注意到的女性。

A woman's nose is particularly attuned to MHC molecules, which are used to fight disease.

女性的嗅覺對於一種 MHC（主組織相容性複合基因，用以抵禦疾病）粒子特別敏銳。

In this case, opposites attract.

這個案例中，異性相吸。

When a study asked women to smell t-shirts that had been worn by different men, they preferred the odors of those whose MHC molecules differed from theirs.

當研究要求女性去聞多件被不同男性穿過的 T 恤時，她們比較喜歡那些和她們具有不同 MHC 氣味的衣服。

This makes sense.

這很合理。

Genes that result in a greater variety of immunities may give offspring a major survival advantage.

能生產更多樣性免疫力的基因也許能給予後代更大的生存優勢。

Our ears also determine attraction.

我們的聽覺也會決定吸引力。

Men prefer females with high-pitched, breathy voices, and wide formant spacing, correlated with smaller body size.

男性喜歡音高較高、帶點氣聲和寬共振峰幅度的嗓音， 這與較嬌小的身軀有關聯。

While women prefer low-pitched voices with a narrow formant spacing that suggest a larger body size.

而女性較喜歡低沉與窄共振峰幅度的嗓音， 讓人聯想到較巨大的身軀。

And not surprisingly, touch turns out to be crucial for romance.

毫無意外地，觸覺是影響浪漫故事的重要關鍵。

In this experiment, not realizing the study had begun, participants were asked to briefly hold the coffee, either hot or iced.

這個實驗中，在受試者不知道實驗開始的前提下，實驗要求他們簡單地拿著一杯咖啡， 或熱或冷。

Later, the participants read a story about a hypothetical person, and were asked to rate their personality.

接著，讓受試者閱讀一篇關於一個假定人物的故事，並且去評價他們的個性。

Those who had held the hot cup of coffee perceived the person in the story as happier, more social, more generous, and better-natured

手握熱咖啡的受試者覺得故事中的人物個性較開朗、 合群、慷慨和自然，

than those who had held the cup of iced coffee, who rated the person as cold, stoic, and unaffectionate.

而相較之下，手握冰咖啡的受試者則覺得那個人物的個性冰冷、恬淡且無情。

If a potential mate has managed to pass all these tests, there's still one more: the infamous first kiss.

如果一位潛在的伴侶成功應付了所有的難題，那麼還有一個關卡：那惡名昭彰的初吻。

A rich and complex exchange of tactile and chemical cues, such as the smell of one's breath and the taste of their mouth.

一個極其複雜、意味深遠的觸覺與化學訊息交換，例如一個人呼吸的氣味， 和他們嘴巴的滋味。

This magical moment is so critical that a majority of men and women have reported losing their attraction to someone after a bad first kiss.

這神奇的時刻重要到大多數的男性與女性表示在糟糕的第一次接吻後，他們就不再對某人著迷了。

Once attraction is confirmed, your bloodstream is flooded with norepinephrine, activating your fight-or-flight system.

一旦這種吸引力確立，你的血液中將會充滿去甲腎上腺素（有收縮血管、升高血壓的作用），啟動身體的戰鬥或逃跑反應系統。

Your heart beats faster, your pupils dilate, and your body releases glucose for additional energy.

心跳加速、瞳孔放大、身體釋放葡萄糖轉換成額外的能量。

Not because you're in danger, but because your body is telling you that something important is happening.

不是因為你身處危險之中，而是因為你的身體告訴你某些重要的事情正在發生。

To help you focus,

為了幫助你專心，

norepinephrine creates a sort of tunnel vision, blocking out surrounding distractions, possibly even warping your sense of time, and enhancing your memory.

去甲腎上腺素塑造出一種管狀視覺，封鎖周遭令人分神的事物，甚至很有可能扭曲你的時間感，並增強你的記憶力。

This might explain why people never forget their first kiss.

也許這能解釋為什麼人們忘不了初吻。

The idea of so much of our attraction being influenced by chemicals and evolutionary biology may seem cold and scientific rather than romantic.

這麼多關於我們吸引力受到化學以及生物演化影響的見解，似乎都有點冷血、科學而不浪漫。

But the next time you see someone you like, try to appreciate how your entire body is playing matchmaker to decide if that beautiful stranger is right for you.

但下次你見到你喜歡的人時，試著去體會你的身體是如何扮演著月下老人的腳色，幫你決定那美麗的陌生人適不適合你。