As a neurotransmitter, this has been found to be related to a number of different things. One of its nicknames, the "love molecule," illustrates clearly one of its functions, and its discovery had sent the media into a frenzy of the possibility of love potions. When in love, this chemical floods the body, bestowing the feelings of bliss associated with love. It is known that phenylethylamine's main emotional association are blissful, happy, content ones, although because of its amphetamine-like nature, it is rather unstable, causing mood swings, and the high followed by a crash occurs too with this molecule. Its associated activities are known to improve mood, and recently studies have been showing that these are due to increases in the concentration of phenylethylamine in the body. For example, exercise has been known to improve mood and be useful in treating mild depression. However, it was just recently that studies have begun attempting to prove that this connection between physical exertion and improved mood is caused by phenylethylamine. Although this particular chemical is not as closely intertwined with depression as Serotonin and Norepinephrine, it is still worth noting as very low levels of Phenylethylamine can make onset of depression more likely.

Phenylethylamine contributes to migranes in some people, by dilating blood vessels in the brain, and can cause sleeping problems.

As a final note, phenylethylamine is found in chocolate. For a while it was thought that this could be linked to the positive emotions associated with the food. However, recent studies have shown that the phenylethylamine in chocolate, as well as in any other digestive source of phenylethylamine, is broken down before it can have any effect, rendering any such hypothesis false.