Laugh why

We only laugh during pauses when we would cough or breathe. An evolutionary perspective We believe laughter evolved from the panting behavior of our ancient primate ancestors.

Apes laugh in conditions in which human laughter is produced, like tickle, rough and tumble play, and chasing games. Rats, for example, produce high-pitch vocalizations during play and when tickled. So laughter has a bonding function within individuals in a group. No one has actually counted how much people of different ages laugh, but young children probably laugh the most.

At ages 5 and 6, we tend to see the most exuberant laughs. Adults laugh less than children, probably because they play less. And laughter is associated with play. We have learned a lot about when and why we laugh, much of it counter-intuitive. This column has given some answers to the first question laughter evolved for social interaction and the last question laughter is controlled by evolutionary ancient brain centres that control breathing and speech , but even with the beginnings of answers to these two questions, the other two are far from being answered.

Each time we get closer to an answer for a fundamental question, it deepens our appreciation of the challenge remaining to answer the others. Thank you to Andrew Martin for suggesting the topic. If you have your own suggestions please send them to tom mindhacks. If you would like to comment on this story or anything else you have seen on Future, head over to our Facebook page or message us on Twitter. Neurohacks Brain. What makes us laugh? Share using Email. By Tom Stafford 5th June A simple question with a surprisingly complex answer — understanding laughter means understanding fundamental issues about human nature.

Brain triggers So if we want to understand laughter, perhaps we need to go deeper, and look at what is going on in the brain. Shared joke To answer this, perhaps we need to look outwards, to look at the social factors at play when people laugh.

As children, we used to laugh hundreds of times a day, but as adults, life tends to be more serious and laughter more infrequent. But by seeking out more opportunities for humor and laughter, you can improve your emotional health, strengthen your relationships, find greater happiness—and even add years to your life. Laughter relaxes the whole body. A good, hearty laugh relieves physical tension and stress, leaving your muscles relaxed for up to 45 minutes after.

Laughter boosts the immune system. Laughter decreases stress hormones and increases immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies, thus improving your resistance to disease. Endorphins promote an overall sense of well-being and can even temporarily relieve pain.

Laughter protects the heart. Laughter improves the function of blood vessels and increases blood flow, which can help protect you against a heart attack and other cardiovascular problems.

Laughter burns calories. Nothing diffuses anger and conflict faster than a shared laugh. Looking at the funny side can put problems into perspective and enable you to move on from confrontations without holding onto bitterness or resentment.

Laughter may even help you to live longer. The difference was particularly notable for those battling cancer. Laughter makes you feel good. And this positive feeling remains with you even after the laughter subsides.

Humor helps you keep a positive, optimistic outlook through difficult situations, disappointments, and loss. More than just a respite from sadness and pain, laughter gives you the courage and strength to find new sources of meaning and hope.

Even in the most difficult of times, a laugh—or even simply a smile—can go a long way toward making you feel better. And laughter really is contagious—just hearing laughter primes your brain and readies you to smile and join in the fun. Laughter stops distressing emotions. Laughter helps you relax and recharge.

It reduces stress and increases energy, enabling you to stay focused and accomplish more. Laughter shifts perspective , allowing you to see situations in a more realistic, less threatening light. A humorous perspective creates psychological distance, which can help you avoid feeling overwhelmed and diffuse conflict. Laughter draws you closer to others, which can have a profound effect on all aspects of your mental and emotional health. And the more laughter you bring into your own life, the happier you and those around you will feel.

Shared laughter is one of the most effective tools for keeping relationships fresh and exciting. All emotional sharing builds strong and lasting relationship bonds, but sharing laughter also adds joy, vitality, and resilience. And humor is a powerful and effective way to heal resentments, disagreements, and hurts.

Laughter unites people during difficult times. Humor and playful communication strengthen our relationships by triggering positive feelings and fostering emotional connection. When we laugh with one another, a positive bond is created.

This bond acts as a strong buffer against stress, disagreements, and disappointment. Humor and laughter in relationships allows you to:. Be more spontaneous. Humor gets you out of your head and away from your troubles. Peekaboo, it turns out, is particularly a global crowd-pleaser.

And we know this because studying baby laughter is an actual job , too. Laughter clearly serves a social function. It is a way for us to signal to another person that we wish to connect with them. In fact, in a study of thousands of examples of laughter, the speakers in a conversation were found to be 46 percent more likely to laugh than the listeners.

Young children between the ages of 2. Evolutionarily speaking, this signal of connection likely played an important role in survival. Upon meeting a stranger, we want to know: What are your intentions with me? And who else are you aligned with? In a study that spanned 24 different societies and included participants, scientists played short sound bites of pairs of people laughing together.

In some cases, the pair were close friends, in others, the pair were strangers. Participants in the study were asked to listen to the simultaneous laughter and determine the level of friendship shared by the laughers. Using only the sound of the laughter as cues, they could reliably tell the difference between people who had just met and those who were long-time friends.