The Science Behind The Smile

Gelotology is a branch of psychology that studies the effects of smile on human physiology.

Effects of smile on human metabolism:

Immune response; It is stated that the increased stress is related to the decreased immune system response. Some studies show that the ability to use humor can raise the level of antibodies in the body that fight infection and also increase the level of immune cells.

Blood sugar level; A study of 139 people with diabetes clearly demonstrates the effects of laughter on blood sugar levels. The group, who entered a boring seminar after dinner, was shown a comedy the next day after the dinner. When the blood sugar level of the group was measured after the comedy movie, it was lower than it was after the seminar.

Relaxation and sleep; The focus on the benefits of laughter actually began with the memoirs of Norman Cousin, "Anatomy of a Disease." Diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis, a painful spine disease, Cousin found that a cure of comedy movies made him feel better. Cousin says that laughing for ten minutes allows him to have two hours of painless sleep, and states that he does not forget to laugh under any circumstances.

Depression and anxiety; In recent years, in addition to psychotherapy and breathing therapy, laughing therapy has been used in the treatment of depression. Therapy is based on the practice of breathing using an exercise that combines laughter and breathing techniques, using the abdominal muscles and training the diaphragm to laugh.

Blood flow; When people watched movies like comedy or drama, the effects on the veins were observed. After the screening, the veins of the group watching the comedy easily narrow and expand and move normally, while the vessels in the people watching the drama tended to stretch in a way that restricts blood flow.