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

Why are we seeing a rise in AD...

00:07:54

Why are we seeing a rise in ADHD medication prescriptions?

The Hard Shoulder

00:07:54


How to do Stuff: Avoiding push...

00:09:54

How to do Stuff: Avoiding pushy parenting

The Hard Shoulder

00:09:54


FAI executives appear before O...

00:10:53

FAI executives appear before Oireachtas over Israel games fallout

The Hard Shoulder

00:10:53


Tech Takeover: Lidl’s new mobi...

00:08:01

Tech Takeover: Lidl’s new mobile plan

The Hard Shoulder

00:08:01