Question

How many muscles do we use in smiling and how many do we use in frowning?

Answers

GPT-4o mini
Smiling primarily engages about 12 to 20 muscles, depending on the intensity of the smile and the specific facial expression. The most notable muscle involved in smiling is the zygomaticus major, which helps lift the corners of the mouth.

Frowning, on the other hand, typically involves around 6 muscles. The primary muscle used for frowning is the corrugator supercilii, which helps create the vertical lines between the eyebrows.

While it's often said that smiling uses fewer muscles than frowning (the common adage is that it takes 17 muscles to smile and 43 to frown), the actual number of muscles involved can vary based on individual facial anatomy and the particular expressions being made.