Mindfully Healing

It has incredible psychological and physiological power. Holding someone’s hand is enough to reduce their pain and even synchronise breathing and heart rates, new research finds. Dr Pavel Goldstein, the study’s first author, said: “The more empathic the partner and the stronger the analgesic effect, the higher the synchronization between the two when they are touching.” The study is the latest in the area of interpersonal synchronisation. This is how people’s physiological measures automatically synchronise to those who are around them. People automatically synchronise their footsteps when walking together and

There is something about the voice which is effective in communicating status. Lowering the pitch of your voice in the first few seconds of an interaction can help you influence others, new research finds. Those who lowered their voice were also seen as more prestigious and admirable by their peers in the study. Dr Joey Cheng, the study’s first author, said: “What excites me about this research is that we now know a little bit more about how humans use their voices to signal status. In the past, we focused

Smiling is associated with positive values, but does it make you look younger? A neutral facial expression makes you look two years younger than if you smile, a new study finds. However, a surprised expression can make you look even younger, the researchers also found. The findings with regard to smiling are the total opposite of what people expect. Dr Melvyn Goodale, a study author, said: “We associate smiling with positive values and youth. Think of all the skin-care and toothpaste companies that sell the same idea every day.” Surprisingly,