Cracking the Code of Laughter

Isn’t it strange how when we find something funny, we end up showing our teeth, changing our breathing, feeling weak in certain areas, or even shedding a few tears? It really makes you wonder why laughter, this quirky response, happens at all. When you laugh, your abdominal muscles start to contract quickly, which shifts your breathing and builds up pressure in your chest, forcing air out in various ways—sometimes it comes out as a snort or a wheeze. Since you’re using your abs a lot more than you do while chatting, they might start to ache. Laughter can also mess with your reflexes and muscle control, leaving you with a funny sensation of leg weakness.

So where does this amusing behavior originate? There’s no archaeological evidence to pinpoint exactly how or why laughter developed, but scientists have proposed some interesting theories. It’s also worth noting that humans aren’t the only ones who laugh—other animals engage in a similar behavior. Research from the late 90s discovered that rats actually seem to giggle when tickled, using ultrasonic recorders to capture the sound. Additionally, studies have identified at least 65 species—mostly mammals, along with some birds—that vocalize during playful interactions. Naturally, some of these are our closest relatives. By recording and analyzing the sounds made by primates during play and tickling sessions, researchers have gained confidence that the common ancestor of all great apes likely exhibited a form of laughter. Other apes continue to produce laughter-like sounds when interacting with one another.

Rough-and-tumble play often leads researchers to consider that laughter may have originally developed as a way to signal friendly, non-aggressive intentions. However, laughter isn’t limited to just moments of play; we laugh when we’re amused, surprised, confused, or even nervous. Some scientists propose that as humans diverged from other great apes and formed larger social groups with more complex languages, laughter took on new roles. They suggest it evolved into a tool not just for play but also for communication, allowing us to express subtle meanings and a wide range of emotions. This might explain why laughter is so contagious—it acts like an invitation to connect with someone’s feelings. Just hearing laughter can light up specific areas in your brain, prompting you to smile or join in the laughter. Interestingly, in a study where participants watched a funny video, they laughed longer and more often in the presence of others, even though they reported feeling the same level of amusement. Additionally, human laughter tends to be louder than the vocalizations of most animals. Some researchers speculate that our laughter serves not only as a signal between individuals but also as a call to those around us.Researchers have discovered that even infants as young as 5 months can distinguish between close friends and acquaintances, simply by watching short clips of them laughing. Interestingly, we can also differentiate between genuine and fake laughter based solely on sound. While fake or voluntary laughter is produced through brain networks similar to those used for speech, genuine laughter draws from older neural pathways, which are shared with other animals for their vocal sounds.

Laughter carries significant social value, but it’s also beneficial for our well-being. When we laugh, our brains release mood-enhancing chemicals like endorphins and lower stress hormones like cortisol. Some studies indicate that people who laugh frequently are better equipped to handle stress and may even enjoy improved cardiovascular health.

Laughter is a universal aspect of being human; babies can laugh before they utter their first words. While its effectiveness as a remedy may vary depending on the situation, laughter undeniably enriches our lives, strengthens relationships, and may positively influence our health. Just make sure you’re in good shape to enjoy a hearty laugh—if you’ve got a broken rib, that might not be the best scenario!