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Subject: Why do we laugh?
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Date: Tue, 20 May 2008 23:42:00 GMT
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Why do we laugh?
The reasons we laugh, including "contagious" laughter, may be products
of evolution.
Natural laughter is a two-part, spontaneous, response to humor, that
has physiological, psychological, and physical benefits.
Most agree that we laugh when we find something to be humorous, yet
different reasons exist for what we find to be humorous. Additionally,
different things are humorous to us at different stages of life.
Laughter, a physiological response to humor, can be broken down into
two parts.
The first is a set of gestures, and the second is the production of
sound. The brain forces to conduct both responses simultaneously. From
a physiological standpoint, a "sensor" in the brain responds to
laughter by triggering other neural circuits in the brain, which, in
turn, generate more laughter.
Oddly enough, laughter is an orderly response, and almost occurs
"spontaneously" during pauses at the end of phrases, earning it the
name the punctuation effect. Human beings are the only species capable
of laughter, and the average adult does so approximately 17 times per
day.
Good health is one of the many benefits of laughter. Laughter reduces
our stress levels by reducing the level of stress hormones, and also
helps us cope with serious illnesses.
Physiologically, laughter promotes healing, by lowering the blood
pressure, and by increasing the vascular blood flow and the
oxygenation of the blood.
Physical fitness stemming from laughter is a benefit known to few.
Scientists estimate that laughing 100 times is equivalent to a
10-minute workout on a rowing machine, or to 15 minutes on a
stationary exercise bike. The mere act of laughing exercises the
diaphragm, as well as the abdominal, respiratory, facial, leg, and
back muscles.
Another benefit of laughter is that it improves our over-all mental
health. Pent up negative emotions, such as anger, fear, and sadness,
can cause biochemical changes in our bodies that can produce a harmful
effect.
Laughter provides a harmless outlet for these negative emotions, and
provides a coping mechanism for dealing with difficult or stressful
situations.
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