Can your smile predict how long you will live?
Can your smile predict how long you will live?
By: Arlene Gentallan
Here's a fun dreary reason to look at your old photograph.
Research by Abel, E. & Kruger, M. was the first study ever done to find out if there is a relationship between a person's smile and his/her lifespan.
They obtained photographs of 230 Major League Baseball (MLB) players who debuted prior to 1950. Analyzing not only whether a player smile or not, but also if a player sports a genuine smile.
What is a genuine smile?
Genuine smile is referred to as "duchenne smile" which is the duo of curling of lips and wrinkling of eye. Did you know that while it's easy to curl the lips, only a genuine smile can force the eye to wrinkle.
Contraction of muscle innervating the lips (zygomatic major) results in curling of the lips while the muscle that encircles the eye (obicularis oculis) results in wrinkling of the eye.
Revelation
The study reveals that individuals who had a genuine "duchenne smile" have a longer lifespan compared to those who did not smile or who only wore a partial smile (only curling of the lips without the wrinkling of the eye.)
A positive outlook in life
Our outlook in life shows on our face. It could determine our mood, habits, and attitude. It's healthy to keep it positive.
Resources:
Abel, E. & Kruger, M. (2010). Smile Intensity in Photograph Predicts Longevity. Psychological Science. doi: 10.1177/0956797610363775.
By: Arlene Gentallan
 |
| Can your smile predict how long you will live? |
Here's a fun dreary reason to look at your old photograph.
Research by Abel, E. & Kruger, M. was the first study ever done to find out if there is a relationship between a person's smile and his/her lifespan.
They obtained photographs of 230 Major League Baseball (MLB) players who debuted prior to 1950. Analyzing not only whether a player smile or not, but also if a player sports a genuine smile.
What is a genuine smile?
Genuine smile is referred to as "duchenne smile" which is the duo of curling of lips and wrinkling of eye. Did you know that while it's easy to curl the lips, only a genuine smile can force the eye to wrinkle.
Contraction of muscle innervating the lips (zygomatic major) results in curling of the lips while the muscle that encircles the eye (obicularis oculis) results in wrinkling of the eye.
Revelation
The study reveals that individuals who had a genuine "duchenne smile" have a longer lifespan compared to those who did not smile or who only wore a partial smile (only curling of the lips without the wrinkling of the eye.)
A positive outlook in life
Our outlook in life shows on our face. It could determine our mood, habits, and attitude. It's healthy to keep it positive.
Resources:
Abel, E. & Kruger, M. (2010). Smile Intensity in Photograph Predicts Longevity. Psychological Science. doi: 10.1177/0956797610363775.
