The Science of Smiling: Can a Smile During These Tough Times During COVID-19 Help Our Mood?
The science of smiling is one area of study in psychology that has always fascinated me. We have all heard the expression that smiling takes less muscle activity than frowning. Now new research from the University of South Australia has found that your mind is more positive when you smile.
We do know that the effect of a smile on others is that they feel more at ease. There is a relationship between observing a smiling person and letting down one’s guard or feeling more at ease. The vagus nerve sends more calming signals to the brain when we observe a smiling person in our environment. Smiling also can lead to a reciprocal response from another. When you smile at a passerby, they are more likely to smile in return.
There are clearly social benefits of smiling. I know you would agree that we need more smiling with the world in chaos from a pandemic which has resulted in so much sadness and economic stress. Improving mood through any reasonable method appears to be critical at this moment in time. Could we fake it till we make it?
Now research published in the journal of Experimental Psychology by lead researcher Fernandon Marmolejo-Ramos, Ph.D. confirms what we have known all along. When your muscles communicate to your brain that you are happy you are more likely to view your environment in a positive light.
When subjects in the study were forced to alter their facial expressions by holding a pen between their teeth, their body produced more positive emotions. The act of smiling had an impact on the area of the brain that contributes to feeling more positive.
Specifically, forceful smiling stimulates the amygdala which is the deep brain structure associated with emotions. This almond shaped structure in the brain is involve with a variety of emotional states including anxiety and anger but also positive emotions such as happiness. It also consolidates positive memories.
Here is a two-minute video which does a nice job of explaining amygdala basics ->
We know that the amygdala does not think but reacts quickly to environmental stimuli associated with threatened danger. But here in this experiment there is evidence that the amygdala is also affected in a positive way by changing facial muscles. So, please smile, it will help your mood and the mood of others near you.
SOURCE
Marmolejo-Ramos, F., Murata, A., Sasaki, K., Yamada, Y., Ikeda, A., Hinojosa, J. A., Watanabe, K., Parzuchowski, M., Tirado, C., & Ospina, R. (Accepted/In press). Your Face and Moves Seem Happier When i Smile: Facial Action Influences the Perception of Emotional Faces and Biological Motion Stimuli. Experimental Psychology.