New research has revealed that people injected with doses of Botox actually find it harder to interpret photographs of people who are angry or sad – suggesting that when the physical aspect is impaired, it influences the mind. (Full article here)
It’s obvious why this is fascinating, but it also demonstrates the likelihood that the old ‘nature vs nurture’ debate is irrelevant – instead, the body interacts with the environment and we are shaped by the combination.
It’s also encouraging news to those of us who suffer from mood disorders. Perhaps it really is within our power to get some element of control over ourselves by first getting control of our physical aspect – next time we feel ourselves sinking into depression, for instance, maybe the physical act of smiling would slowly affect us on the inside. Could be nonsense, but it also could be a real possibility – anyone ready to try the ‘fake it until you make it’ experiment with me?
Vrinda Pendred
Editor & Founder of Conditional Publications
