Advertisement

Do facial expressions influence our emotional state?

When we’re happy, our bodies become flooded with dopamine and serotonin, two types of neurotransmitters in the brain; our hearts might even beat faster and maybe, we even muster a smile. But does it work the other way? Can contorting our faces into a smile give us that chemical hit that actually makes us feel good? Nicholas A. Coles from the Center for the Study of Language and Information at Stanford University joins Jonathan to discuss.

Share this article

15.25 5 Mar 2023


Do facial expressions influence our emotional state?



Share this article

15.25 5 Mar 2023


When we’re happy, our bodies become flooded with dopamine and serotonin, two types of neurotransmitters in the brain; our hearts might even beat faster and maybe, we even muster a smile.

But does it work the other way? Can contorting our faces into a smile give us that chemical hit that actually makes us feel good?

Nicholas A. Coles from the Center for the Study of Language and Information at Stanford University joins Jonathan to discuss.


Read more about

Futureproof With Jonathan McCrea

Related Episodes

Celebrating Ireland's bre...

00:18:01

Celebrating Ireland's breadmakers

The Claire Byrne Show

00:18:01


Gold: Neil DeGrasse Tyson - A...

00:36:47

Gold: Neil DeGrasse Tyson - A Brief Welcome to the Universe

Futureproof With Jonathan McCrea

00:36:47


Tupac Shakur murder trial begi...

00:07:04

Tupac Shakur murder trial begins

The Claire Byrne Show

00:07:04


The race to identify and contr...

00:15:37

The race to identify and control dangerous synthetic drugs

The Claire Byrne Show

00:15:37