Do People Prefer Chocolate to Kissing? 

Yes, according to a study conducted by the research organization, Mindlab. People seem to get more stimulated by having melting chocolate in their mouths than they do by kissing.

In their scientific experiment called A comparison of Effect on Heart Rate and Brain Activity of Allowing Chocolate to Melt in the Mouth and Kissing a Familiar Partner, the research team found that people get more stimulated by chocolate than they do kissing.

Chocolate Does Taste Good

The experiment used a piece of plain dark chocolate for the participants to put in their mouths.  As I am thinking about the experiment, I can imagine how good the chocolate, especially the melting chocolate, must have tasted in their mouths.

As my mind wonders, I start to feel the smooth texture of rich Belgian truffles or the sweet taste of almost anything milk chocolate in my own mouth.  I also think about the intoxicating smell of gourmet chocolate and the taste of rich chocolate layer cake?  No wonder I conclude, they preferred the melting chocolate in the experiment.  Now, let’s go to the study results.

The Chocolate Study Results

The study examined physical changes in brain activity and heart rate in couples with established relationships while they were at rest, eating the chocolate, and kissing. The researchers examined the alpha brain waves of the couples. These waves are associated with happiness and pleasure.  When the couples kissed or put the chocolate (dark chocolate) in their mouths, their heart rate amplitude increased over just relaxing or being at rest. The increase was about the same for both kissing and having the chocolate in their mouths, but when the chocolate melted in their mouths then their heart and brain wave rates significantly increased.    

People were more stimulated by melting chocolate in their mouths than by kissing a familiar partner. In only one couple, did the two genders differ in how they reacted to the experiment. In that example, the male preferred kissing over chocolate and the female preferred the melting chocolate over kissing, but in the rest of the couples both males and females preferred the experience of dark chocolate melting in their mouths to kissing. At least their bodies indicated that. 

What does all this mean? 

Chocolate is pleasurable to eat and melting chocolate is especially hard to beat for its many sensations and pleasures. So perhaps it wasn’t fair to compare the experience of melting chocolate to kissing. My sense is that kissing is wonderful too but perhaps in a deeper way when with people we have knew well. Maybe the experiment can’t register the subtle responses from such a kiss shared by people who are so intimate. In any case, both experiences are good and to be enjoyed.