Cognitive strain happens when our brain has to handle various mental calculations, read instructions in a difficult-to-read or faint font, decipher a complex language, or when we’re in a negative mood (like when frowning).

Effects of Cognitive Strain

Cognitive strain triggers the logical part of our brain. 

• We are more careful and suspicious about an activity (too good to be true?)
• Take greater care and scrutinize the content more than usual.
• Are less comfortable and certain about the nature of the content.
• Make fewer errors as we rely on our intuition less.
• Are less creative and so not as responsive to creative content.
• Takes more effort.
• Tires us.

Cognitive Ease vs. Cognitive Strain

When an experience lessens cognitive strain, the opposite happens. Cognitive ease makes the content seem more familiar, decreases uncertainty, and makes people feel more at ease in their surroundings. It lets users rely on their quick, intuitive thinking. This tends to make people more impulsive and trusting.

Embodied Cognition Theories

Thich Nhat Hanh said that sometimes when you’re happy, you smile, but it works the other way around too—smiling can make you feel happy. This idea shows how our thoughts and feelings are connected to our bodies.  

Theories of embodied cognition suggest that what’s going on in your body is really important in how you understand and react to emotions and social situations, even when nothing external is happening around you.

Embodiment theories suggest that intentionally taking on certain body postures can influence how we feel. Studies have shown that adopting postures associated with specific emotions, like anger or happiness, can actually make people rate themselves as experiencing that emotion more strongly. 

Related: How To Be Happy: As Per Science

Facial Expression and Cognitive Strain

A lot of research on the facial feedback hypothesis reveals that our facial expressions can also impact how we rate our own emotions and overall mood.

In simpler terms, when you have a positive facial expression like a smile, it tends to make you feel more positive. On the flip side, a negative expression like a frown can make you feel more negative.

Facial Expression and Physical Activity Strain

Facial feedback effects also occur during physical activity. Participants in a study said they felt happier when intentionally smiling compared to when frowning. They also felt like they were exerting less effort when smiling compared to frowning. These positive effects of smiling over frowning were observed both when participants were at rest and during physical activity.

Related: Laughter Yoga: All You Need To Know

References:

1. Kahneman, D. (2011). Thinking fast and slow. U.K: Penguin Books. 
2. Philippen, P. B., Bakker, F. C., Oudejans, R. R. D., & Canal-Bruland, R. (2012). The effects of smiling and frowning on perceived affect and exertion while physically active. Journal of Sport Behavior, 35(3), 337–353.e
3. de Morree, H. M., & Marcora, S. M. (2010). The face of effort: Frowning muscle activity reflects effort during a physical task. Biological Psychology, 85(3), 377–382. doi:10.1016/j.biopsycho.2010.08.009