Such a "fluttering" feeling is quite a common phenomenon and can occur in a variety of situations - for example, when we are nervous or excited about something. You may have felt it as stage fright before going out to give a presentation to a large audience, or if you are going to deliver a public speech in front of dozens of eyes, or even if you are going on stage to sing or play.

Another common scenario where you might get that fluttering feeling is when you are on your first date with someone you like, or he/she approaches you to tell you something. Gen Z faces another variant: "butterflies in the stomach" even in a long-distance relationship when chatting with the person they like.

The situations where you might get butterflies in your stomach are too far many. But what does science say about this phenomenon?

Scientists get down to three main reasons. The first is the dopamine release - a neurotransmitter associated with the feeling of pleasure when, for example, flirting or having sex.

The other possible explanation is a surge of noradrenaline, also known as norepinephrine, in the central nervous system. It is a hormone and a neurotransmitter at the same time, which is dominant in the state of "fight or flight", the specific biochemical reaction when human instincts are activated.

And not only that - norepinephrine is released in romantic and intimate moments. Although excitement and arousal seem to us to be completely contradicting, in both cases the human body is in an almost primitive state. Science suggests that romantic love shares many traits with the attraction in mammals.

The third possible explanation for the phenomenon of butterflies in the stomach is related to the so-called gut-brain axis. Guts are directly connected to the brain and nervous system. According to the Johns Hopkins institute, the "second brain" in humans is located in the digestive system, which explains why "butterflies flutter in the stomach" when we are anxious or excited.

Source: Verywellmind.com, Vbox7.com