Blushing

Blushing, the reddening of the face which accompanies certain mental states is due to relaxation of muscular fibres of small arterioles, allowing of an increased flow of blood to the affected part. It is a curious example of the involuntary influence of the mind upon vasomotor nerves. Blushing is confined to the human subject, and is more common in women than in men. The face, ears, and neck are alone affected, as a rule, but in rare instances blushing has been noted as extending to other parts of the body, and it is said that in some savage races blushing involves a much larger area of the skin than among civilised communities. Many facts concerning blushing and a theory with respect to its causation will be found set forth in Darwin's work on the Expression of the Emotions.