Brain is smiles ahead: New book reveals how attitude impacts our health

A new book by a cognitive neuroscientist explains why smiling can trick the brain, making us feel a lot better, writes Margaret Jennings.

Did you know that you can ‘fool’ your brain into releasing natural antidepressants and pain relief — simply by faking a smile?

The feel-good factor kicks off in your brain when you flash those pearly whites spontaneously — releasing dopamine, serotonin, and endorphins into your body, according to a new, very readable book, 100 Days To A Younger Brain, by Dr Sabina Brennan, a research psychologist and cognitive neuroscientist at Trinity College Dublin.