The Science behind Tantric Eye Gazing

Eye gazing - looking into the eyes of your partner for long periods of time - is an ancient Tantric practice. Science has now discovered why it's such an effective bonding technique.

The reason you like gazing into your lover's eyes may be because you used to gaze into your mother's eyes when you were an infant, since this released a comforting brain hormone, which is also stimulated by touches and hugs. And what if those eyes you're gazing into are blue?

Researchers have learned that the brain chemical oxytocin is released through touch between mother-infant and male- female pair bonds. It is released during hugging and pleasant physical touch, and may actually change the brain in a way that helps human social behavior.

Researcher Kai MacDonald says, "That's why oxytocin is sometimes called 'the love hormone.' It's said that the eyes are the window to the soul…they certainly are the window to the emotional brain. We know that the eye-to-eye communication—which is affected by oxytocin—is critical to intimate emotional communication for all kind of emotions— love, fear, trust, anxiety." Read more