A new study from the University of South Australia suggests you can trick yourself into a more positive outlook, simply by moving your facial muscles.
The research, published in the science journal Experimental Psychology, examined the effect of artificially induced smiles on mood and wellbeing.
Researchers did this by having participants hold a pen between their teeth, which replicated the movement of a smile in their facial muscles (as you can see in the figure below).
Researchers found the act of smiling – even artificially – stimulates the emotional centre of the brain, releasing chemical messages that encourage an emotionally positive state.
The University of South Australia’s Dr Fernando Marmolejo-Ramos says these findings could have significant implications for mental health treatment.
“When your muscles say you’re happy, you’re more likely to see the world around you in a positive way,” Dr Marmolejo-Ramos says.
“For mental health, this has interesting implications. If we can trick the brain into perceiving stimuli as ‘happy’, then we can potentially use this mechanism to help boost mental health.”
Another good reason to flash those pearly whites!
