We've all heard it: laughter is good for you, and even a forced smile can lift your mood. The idea is that your brain interprets the smile—real or fake—and responds positively. Intriguing, right?
This notion stems largely from a 1988 study where two groups read newspaper comic strips. One group held a pen between their teeth to mimic smiling; they found the comics funnier.
When researchers replicated the study, however, they found no solid evidence that forced smiling boosts happiness. Nu.nl dug deeper: Have we been oversold on laughter's health benefits all these years?
Psychologists and university lecturers maintain that laughter does promote well-being—especially genuine smiles that reach the eyes. While endorphin release from smiling remains unproven (it's more assumption than fact, repeated uncritically), humor has been shown to raise pain thresholds. Laughter also fosters social bonds; we instinctively mirror others' smiles.
Read also: 6 reasons to smile today
Proven perks abound. Healthy or not, let's keep laughing.
