New! Sign up for our email newsletter on Substack.

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.

Fuel Independent Science Reporting: Make a Difference Today

If our reporting has informed or inspired you, please consider making a donation. Every contribution, no matter the size, empowers us to continue delivering accurate, engaging, and trustworthy science and medical news. Independent journalism requires time, effort, and resources—your support ensures we can keep uncovering the stories that matter most to you.

Join us in making knowledge accessible and impactful. Thank you for standing with us!



59 thoughts on “A Smile Really Is Contagious”

  1. It’s true that smile, as well as happiness is contagious. So wear a smile and spread it around. You might just brighten someone’s day.

    Reply
    • :)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:)

      Reply
      • i’m in 5th grade and i’m doing this!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My friend is going to walk a couple yeard behind me, and she will have a notebook and i will have a notebook. Since we will pass the same people, she will write down how many people smiled at her and i will do the same. and FYI: its already a universal fact that a positive person will attract another positive person.when you smile at someone,you give off positive emotions which pull at the same energies in the reciving person.

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

    Reply
  3. 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
    ^_^

    Reply
    • 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

      Reply
  4. 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.

    Reply
  5. 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.

    Reply

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.