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

How can we improve our packed...

00:08:17

How can we improve our packed lunches?

The Hard Shoulder

00:08:17


How effective can AI be in med...

00:05:29

How effective can AI be in medical screening?

The Hard Shoulder

00:05:29


Poland temporarily halted flig...

00:06:21

Poland temporarily halted flights due to Russian attacks on Ukraine

The Hard Shoulder

00:06:21


Man arrested following Michael...

00:14:30

Man arrested following Michael Healy-Rae assault - latest updates

The Hard Shoulder

00:14:30