A Smile Really Is Contagious

Scientists in Sweden have figured out why it’s so difficult to keep a straight face if others around you are grinning away. It’s your unconscious mind taking control. The researchers at Uppsala University had volunteers look at pictures of expressionless, happy, and angry faces. In return they were told to adopt blank, happy, or angry expressions. When they had to meet a smile with a frown, or a frown with a smile, they had trouble. Twitching in the subjects’ faces — measured with electronic equipment — indicated they simply didn’t have control of their muscles. It’s believed that there’s a shortcut to the part of the brain that recognizes faces and expressions that bypasses the area responsible for conscious processing.

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41 Responses to “A Smile Really Is Contagious”

  1. outsource web development #

    This has always been assumed but its noce to have it confirmed at least in part.

    January 26, 2012 at 8:46 am Reply
  2. NIKOLAI #

    BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!! THAT WAS TOOOO HELPFUL
    LOL :-0

    January 2, 2012 at 11:40 pm Reply
  3. The Child #

    This will help my science fair project a bit, but how do I test this? I’m only in 7th grade!!!!

    December 8, 2011 at 4:45 pm Reply
    • my fav color is sparkles #

      :) me too i am going to video tape myself with my ipad in the mall just walking around with a smile and happy and tape their reactions then display that on my display at the science fair
      p.s i am in 7th grade too:)

      December 15, 2011 at 10:26 pm Reply
  4. ssalt #

    this iz meh science fair pro thx for dah info :)

    November 9, 2011 at 10:57 am Reply
  5. Vicky #

    Nice! Now, This is officialy my expirement.

    November 4, 2011 at 12:44 pm Reply
  6. Penis #

    :D THANK YOUUU

    October 25, 2011 at 11:30 am Reply
    • effu #

      interesting name

      October 25, 2011 at 11:32 am Reply
  7. Outsource Web Development #

    Grins…. outsource web development

    October 19, 2011 at 6:28 am Reply
  8. Not me #

    Wow thx but this is rlly stupid and weird! :P PPPP haha

    October 12, 2011 at 1:44 pm Reply
  9. Liz #

    This has been so helpful!

    October 10, 2011 at 9:55 am Reply
  10. Nichole #

    This will really help with my Science Fair Project! Thanks!! :)

    September 15, 2011 at 11:58 am Reply
  11. rain #

    helping with my science fair project as well!!! thx!

    September 8, 2011 at 1:53 pm Reply
  12. Chrisie #

    haha thanks this is aloot of help towards my science fair project! i think mine is gonna be the best one there!

    May 15, 2011 at 6:46 am Reply
    • fdvrghuifyhgt #

      osi di

      October 24, 2011 at 9:20 am Reply
  13. dallen #

    what makes smiling contagious??????????????????????????????? :) :):):):)

    February 15, 2011 at 7:56 pm Reply
  14. Sandy #

    smiles are contagious I can walk up to many people and smile and get an smile back and when I do I feel soooooooooooooooo happy
    ^_^

    January 8, 2011 at 12:14 pm Reply
    • Vicky #

      I learned this because of this, and this one time my friend had a sticker that said: “My Smile Is Contagious” ‘She then smiled and I smiled. So that proves it IS contagious

      November 4, 2011 at 12:46 pm Reply
  15. bob #

    i like this article thing

    December 2, 2010 at 11:36 am Reply
  16. Demi N #

    You guys are so funny. :D Its helping my science project too.!!!!!!!!!By the way who started this blog, i need to know!!!! NOW!!!!!! hahahahahaha.

    November 3, 2010 at 2:48 pm Reply
  17. Anonymous #

    I think if someone is just smileing at one person it does noy make others around them smile but would make them walk by with a blank face i cant explan why but it just does not have the same effect.

    September 15, 2010 at 7:36 am Reply
    • haha #

      makes no sense

      October 8, 2010 at 3:52 pm Reply
  18. ooooh fancy. I am smiling now!!!!! :D DDD :) ))) :| ||||||||||| ::LLLLLLL:::((((( DDDDD: me not smiling nowww

    June 22, 2010 at 5:47 am Reply
  19. Anonymous #

    A SMILE costs nothing, but gives much.
    It enriches those who
    receive, without making poorer those who give.
    It takes but a moment,
    but the memory of it sometimes lasts forever.
    None is so rich or
    mighty that he can get along without it,
    and none is so poor but that
    he can be made rich by it.
    A smile creates happiness in the home,
    fosters good will in business,
    and is the countersign of friendship.
    It brings rest to the weary,
    cheer to the discouraged,
    sunshine to the sad,
    and is nature’s best antidote for trouble.
    Yet it cannot be
    bought, begged, borrowed, or stolen.
    For it is something that is of no
    value to anyone until it is given away.
    Some people are too tired to give you a smile.
    Give them one of yours,
    as none needs a smile so much as
    he who has no more to give.”
    Outsource Web Development and Designing. http://www.outsource-website-development.com

    July 8, 2008 at 10:21 pm Reply
  20. Anonymous #

    thanks guys this really helped me on my science project!!

    September 9, 2009 at 8:35 am Reply
  21. Anonymous #

    It would have been nice to have a reference to the original study so we could read more about the psychology of smiling. I have a student looking for information about whether or not smiling is contageous…this would have been a big help!

    November 23, 2009 at 9:43 am Reply
  22. Anonymous #

    Hey;; Smiling Is Contagious.!!!<3 Or At Least That's What I've Proved From My Science Expirament. Hope I Can Use This As A Back-up Too.;; Thanks.
    -Kimbo

    February 15, 2010 at 7:40 am Reply
  23. Anonymous #

    I am doing a speech about smiling and how it can be contagious. I would like to know, that if someone is just walking around smiling, and the smile is not specially meant for you, that would the effect be the same towards a person and make them smile too? Or would people just not feel as if they’d care to smile.

    March 26, 2010 at 9:08 am Reply
  24. Anonymous #

    This was a really great website. Good job. It really helped me with my science project. Thank You very much

    April 7, 2010 at 9:58 pm Reply
  25. C. Heredia #

    Hi, My son is actualy doing a science project on smiling and if it is contagious or not. Could you share the info you got from the people that were able to send you links on previous studies anbout this topic?
    here is my email
    endj5@yahoo.com

    Thanks

    November 30, 2010 at 6:53 am Reply

Trackbacks/Pingbacks

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    kadry…

    I saw this today……

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