In a lively discussion recorded at a festival, the hosts dive into the fascinating science and joy of smiling. They explore how a smile can offer brain rewards akin to chocolate and whether a pencil in your mouth can trigger happiness. Delving into the anatomy and evolutionary purpose of smiles, they compare human expressions to those of dogs and chimps. The podcast also examines the significance of authentic smiles in social bonds and shares playful insights on trust in nature, making it both informative and entertaining!
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Baby Rex's Smile Journey
Rex, a baby who initially did not smile, worried the hosts due to his lack of smiles.
Over time, Rex did learn to smile, easing their concerns about his emotional expressions.
insights INSIGHT
Anatomy of a Smile
A smile involves 10 to 12 muscles, notably zygomaticus major and orbicularis oculi.
The orbicularis oculi muscle produces the crow's feet typical of genuine smiles.
insights INSIGHT
Dogs' Appeasement Smiles
Dogs' smiles involve mouth, eyes, ears, and express appeasement rather than happiness alone.
Such smiles signal 'I'm okay, you're okay' and help avoid conflict, similar to human social smiles.
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Atomic Habits by James Clear provides a practical and scientifically-backed guide to forming good habits and breaking bad ones. The book introduces the Four Laws of Behavior Change: make it obvious, make it attractive, make it easy, and make it satisfying. It also emphasizes the importance of small, incremental changes (atomic habits) that compound over time to produce significant results. Clear discusses techniques such as habit stacking, optimizing the environment to support desired habits, and focusing on continuous improvement rather than goal fixation. The book is filled with actionable strategies, real-life examples, and stories from various fields, making it a valuable resource for anyone seeking to improve their habits and achieve personal growth[2][4][5].
In this ‘uncut’ special episode, recorded before an audience at the Hay Festival in Wales, Chris and Xand discuss the anatomy of the smile, explore its evolutionary origins and examine some of the health claims about the power of the smile.
Can a smile really give your brain the same reward as two thousand bars of chocolate? Will putting a pencil in your mouth make you feel happy? And how do you fake the perfect smile when realising you’ve failed to win a BAFTA for the eighth time?! Expect some science and some silliness and a dog that looks like a loaf of bread.
Featuring Professor Ben Garrod from the University of East Anglia, Dr Magdalegna Rychlowska from Queen’s University, Belfast, Sinead Rushe from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London and jack the African street dog.
If you want to get in touch, you can email us at whatsupdocs@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on 08000 665 123.
Presenters: Drs Chris and Xand van Tulleken
Guest: Professor Ben Garrod, Dr Magdalegna Rychlowska, Sinead Rushe
Producer: Rami Tzabar
Executive Producer: Jo Rowntree
Editor: Kirsten Lass
Assistant Producers: Maia Miller-Lewis and Grace Revil
Tech Lead: Reuben Huxtable
Social Media: Leon Gower
Digital Lead: Richard Berry
Composer: Phoebe McFarlane
Sound Design: Melvin Rickarby
At the BBC:
Assistant Commissioner: Greg Smith
Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts
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