Helen Elizabeth Fisher[1] (May 31, 1945 – August 17, 2024) was an American anthropologist, human behaviour researcher, and self-help author.

[2][3][4][5] Prior to Rutgers University, she was a research associate at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City.

[10][11] Fisher appeared in the 2014 documentary film about heartbreak and loneliness, entitled Sleepless in New York[12] and the 2017 PBS Nova special on computerized dating, 'How to Find Love Online'.

Fisher advised that in order to sustain long-term deep attachment and romantic love, a couple should leverage neurochemistry by regularly having sex and physical contact (which drives up the oxytocin system), engaging in novel activities (which drives up the dopamine system), and saying nice things to one's partner (which reduces cortisol and cholesterol).

Fisher discussed many of the feelings of intense romantic love, saying it begins as the beloved takes on "special meaning."

Intense energy, elation, mood swings, emotional dependence, separation anxiety, possessiveness, physical reactions including a pounding heart and shortness of breath, and craving, Fisher reported, are all central to this feeling.

As she has said, "After all, if you casually ask someone to go to bed with you and they refuse, you don't slip into a depression, commit suicide or homicide -- but around the world people suffer terribly from romantic rejection."

Fisher also maintained that taking certain antidepressants can potentially dampen feelings of romantic love and attachment (as well as sex drive) although all available evidence suggests this is not the case.