When a new love comes fewer friends.

Probably everyone knows that a passionate new relationship can leave little time for others, but now science has put some numbers on this observation.

Researchers at the University of Oxford in England, asked a group of people for their core Closest friends and as this number varied when a romance entered his life. Scientists found that the nucleus, which is usually formed by an average of five people, was reduced by at least two when a new lover occupy entered everyday life.


"People who are in loving relationships instead of having the typical five circle (friends) on average, only have four," explained Robin Dunbar, professor of evolutionary anthropology at Oxford, told the BBC. "And considering that one of those is the new person who has come into his life, means they have had to give up two other" friends, I added. The research, which will be published soon, was presented to the British Science Festival at the University of Aston.

The research group of Professor Dunbar The study reports as social networks and users manage their size and composition. Previously, researchers found that the maximum number of friends with whom you can realistically participate is about 150. On Facebook, for example, people often have between 120 and 130 friends.