You might have heard the one about chocolate giving people the same feeling as being in love, and you may have even heard that eating chocolate can help your sexual performance. You probably thought that's the reason why so many people spend their savings on pounds of the stuff around Valentine's Day.

Too bad you're wrong.

For years chocolate has appeared to inflame the passions, said Paul S. Dimick, professor of food science and a chocolate researcher for 15 years. But it is just a myth that chocolate is an aphrodisiac, he said.

Due to chocolate's association with romance and Valentine's Day, the candy often evokes a pleasurable response, although it's not a recorded or biological fact, Dimick said. Chocolate's taste is what makes it a token of affection suitable for giving on Valentine's Day, he said.

Kerry Campbell of State College said he's buying chocolate for his wife for Valentine's Day "because she's a chocolate freak."

As he bought a whole bag of chocolate candy from The Candy Cane, 128 W. College Ave., Campbell (graduate-agronomy) said he thinks chocolate is "really sweet, really rich . . . kind of sexy and romantic."

"Most of the guys who come in here are hoping that chocolate is some sort of aphrodisiac," joked Sara Songer, owner of The Candy Cane.

Chocolate dates to the 16th century, when it was highly regarded for many reasons. Cocoa beans have been used for money, in rituals and to cure diseases like tuberculosis, Dimick said.

People regard chocolate as a pleasure stimulator because it contains phenylethylamine -- a compound that permits nerves to "relate to each other" and send pleasurable senses to the brain, Dimick said. But only a small amount of the compound is present in chocolate, Dimick said.

"I'm buying chocolate because my boyfriend likes it," said Belinda Corteza (senior-psychology) while she surveyed chocolate candy in a glass case. She said she thinks chocolate is a popular Valentine's Day gift because everyone likes it.

Monica Miller (senior-psychology) was also buying chocolate for her boyfriend. She said she buys chocolate because it's a traditional Valentine's Day gift.