Let’s get the new year off to a good start with a dose of laughter. They say that laughter is the best medicine, and a great belly laugh certainly feels like a tonic. In this fascinating and funny TED Talk, neuroscientist Professor Sophie Scott talks about why we laugh. We challenge you to listen to it without laughing at least once!
Sophie discusses how primitive the sound of laughter is – more like an animal noise than speech. And although we often think of laughter as being unique to us humans, we also see it in mammals like primates and rats, where it’s often associated with things like tickling and play.
It turns out laughter isn’t just about jokes. It’s generally about social interactions – in fact, Sophie explains that you’re a massive 30 times more likely to laugh if you’re with someone else. We laugh with people to show understanding, agreement, and that we like or love them.
Laugh along
There are two types of laughs – voluntary or posed laughter and involuntary or real laughter. You might think that posed laughter is fake, says Sophie, but it’s actually an important social cue. And, interestingly, our brains respond completely differently depending on which type of laugh we’re laughing.
Laughter, and laughing together, helps us feel better, deal with stressful situations and form closer bonds with each other. This age-old behavior has been practiced for years by all kinds of creatures.
Wishing you a very happy 2023 with plenty of laughter throughout the year.