Love regulation?! Apparently, our minds CAN control our hearts

Most of us follow our hearts when it comes to the person we love, right? So what if someone told you that you can decrease your love for someone by thinking negative thoughts? It doesn't sound too great, does it?

But, according to a study by the University of Missouri, people can choose how much they love their significant other, and it all sounds a bit strange.

The Wall Street Journal reports that 'love regulation' can be used to either increase or decrease love and ease a broken heart.

The researchers compared a group of 20 singletons to a group of 20 people in a long-term relationship. They all had to bring in 30 photos of their current or ex-partner, and then asked to think of both positive and negative thoughts about the person in the picture.

They were also asked how infatuated with the person they were/are, and while all this was going on, they had their brainwaves measured.

The research found that when the participants were thinking of positive thoughts about the other person, they could 'up regulate' their love for them.

And when they were thinking negative thoughts? Yep, you guessed it. They 'down regulated' their love.

Now, easing a broken heart seems all well and good, but having to constantly think of negative aspects of a person you love or once loved can't be healthy.

Are we alone on this? Or, will anyone out there try this method?