The claim that sticking out the tongue for 40 seconds can lower cortisol and stress reflects a broader hypothesis: simple, voluntary body or facial movements may modulate autonomic and endocrine stress systems. The most relevant biological concept here is cortisol regulation, which is governed by the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis. When an individual perceives threat or demands, the hypothalamus releases corticotropin-releasing hormone, the pituitary secretes adrenocorticotropic hormone, and the adrenal cortex produces cortisol. Cortisol helps mobilize energy, influences immune function, and supports adaptive responses. In chronic stress or dysregulated HPA activity, cortisol rhythms can become flattened, and downstream effects may include sleep disruption, metabolic changes, mood symptoms, and impaired cognitive control.
To evaluate the proposed tongue-out intervention, it is important to distinguish (1) direct endocrine effects from (2) indirect effects mediated by state changes in arousal. A short behavioral maneuver is unlikely to “directly” suppress cortisol in a chemically deterministic way. However, many behavioral practices can influence cortisol indirectly by altering perceived stress, breathing patterns, muscle tension, attention, and affect. Facial and orofacial actions can engage sensorimotor and autonomic processes through trigeminal and facial nerve pathways, plus central networks involved in emotion and threat appraisal. Subtle changes in posture and facial muscle activation may shift interoceptive signaling, thereby modulating sympathetic activation and influencing downstream HPA output.
One plausible mechanism is autonomic rebalancing. Stress activates sympathetic pathways (increasing heart rate, vigilance, and peripheral vasoconstriction) and simultaneously primes the HPA axis. Relaxation-oriented breathing, prolonged exhalation, and slow rhythmic movements tend to reduce sympathetic drive and increase parasympathetic influences via vagal pathways. Even without formal breathing training, a deliberate, sustained gesture can slow the breath, encourage diaphragmatic relaxation, and increase time for baroreflex-mediated stability. Reduced physiological arousal can lower the moment-to-moment stress signals that would otherwise sustain cortisol secretion.
A second mechanism involves cognitive–affective appraisal. The act of performing a repeated gesture may function as an attentional anchor or behavioral cue that signals “safety” or “control.” In models of stress regulation, perceived control and reduced threat appraisal diminish HPA activation. Mindfulness-based approaches illustrate that focusing on a sensation or action can reduce perceived stress intensity and improve emotion regulation. A tongue-out gesture could similarly operate as a brief behavioral ritual that interrupts rumination and prompts state change.
A third mechanism concerns muscle tension and motor inhibition. Facial muscles, including those involved in oral posture, often co-vary with stress-related jaw tension and laryngeal constriction. Sustained extension of the tongue and mouth opening may counteract habitual facial bracing, potentially reducing somatic indicators of stress. Somatic interventions can attenuate the stress response by decreasing proprioceptive feedback associated with threat and by promoting a relaxation pattern through descending inhibitory pathways.
What does the evidence base suggest? Scientific literature has explored facial feedback and the relationship between expressive behavior and emotion. There is evidence that facial muscle activity can influence perceived affect and stress-related physiology in some contexts, though effects vary by study design, baseline traits, and the specific movement. Regarding cortisol, acute behavioral interventions often produce modest or variable effects, and many studies are sensitive to timing, baseline cortisol levels, sampling method (salivary vs. plasma), and whether participants are already under stress. For a tongue-out practice specifically, peer-reviewed clinical trials are not well established. Therefore, it is best interpreted as a low-risk, potentially helpful behavioral adjunct rather than a proven cortisol-lowering therapy.
Safety considerations are important. In general, briefly sticking out the tongue is low risk for healthy individuals, but people with certain conditions should be cautious: oral ulcers, temporomandibular disorders with jaw sensitivity, seizure disorders where motor gestures could be disruptive, or swallowing disorders where tongue positioning might provoke discomfort. If a practice causes dizziness, nausea, or pain, it should be discontinued. Moreover, cortisol is not the sole marker of stress health; chronic stress management typically requires evidence-based approaches such as sleep optimization, physical activity, psychotherapy (e.g., cognitive behavioral therapy), relaxation training, and, when indicated, medical management.
Clinical implications: If an individual finds that a brief tongue-out gesture reduces subjective stress or helps them feel more regulated, it can be used as a behavioral tool—similar to stretching, brief guided imagery, or paced breathing—while maintaining realistic expectations about endocrine outcomes. Cortisol reduction, if it occurs, would likely reflect short-term modulation of stress physiology rather than a large therapeutic effect. Integrating the gesture with established stress reduction practices may improve reliability: for example, pairing it with slow diaphragmatic breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, or mindful attention.
In summary, the proposed tongue-out practice plausibly could influence cortisol indirectly by reducing arousal, altering autonomic balance, and improving perceived control or facial muscle tension. However, the specific “40 seconds several times daily” protocol lacks robust direct clinical validation. Treat it as a low-risk behavioral experiment aimed at state regulation, not as a substitute for comprehensive stress and mental health care.
Source: @farmingandJesus (X)
🌷 LIZZIE🌷: If you stick your tongue out for 40 seconds several times a day you can lower your cortisol and stress level. Look it up, im not kidding. Everyone reading this right now 👇🏻. #breaking
— @farmingandJesus May 1, 2026
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