Fake smile vs Genuine smile: Scientists have known for a long time that emotions are accompanied by numerous changes in the body, from elevation in the heart rate to flexion of the zygomatic major muscle (i.e. smiling). However, we’ve come to understand more recently that it’s a two way street. Your brain actually pays attention to what your body is doing, and it affects your emotions. This was first called the “facial feedback hypothesis”, but it applies to more than just muscles of the face. The good news is that while it’s sometimes hard to control our emotions, it’s much easier to control our muscles. Facial feedback works because the brain senses the flexion of certain facial muscles (like the zygomatic major, which is required to smile) and interprets it as “Oh I must be happy about something.” Similarly, if that muscle isn’t flexed then your brain thinks, “Oh, I must not be happy”. In addition to the direct neural feedback, in the real world you also get the added advantage of social feedback. Smiles are infectious. So even if you don’t feel much happier, the people around you are more likely to smile, and that can improve your mood as well. I challenge you to make an effort to smile at least 5 times today - at strangers, at someone you care about, and when you are looking in the mirror at yourself! You’ll feel better. #smile #neuroplasticity #lookinthemirror #challenge #improveyourmood #feelbetter

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