Brain and Laughter: A Simple Connection

Introduction:

One common human emotion is laughter, which is characterized by the intricate interaction
of several brain areas. Laughter activates both voluntary and involuntary brain processes,
evaluating jokes in the left cortex and evoking emotions in the frontal lobe. Laughing is
inherently social; it promotes longer conversations by acting as a social glue. If one were to
try to stop laughing, they would discover that laughter is deeply controlled by ancient brain
regions that are different from those that govern higher processes. Learning about the
complex neurological pathways involved in laughter and the intriguing interaction between
emotion and thought processes are necessary to comprehend the phenomenon.

Parts of Brain Involved in Laughter:

Gelotology, the study of laughter, emerged as a result of scientists' long-standing interest with
this universal human experience. Research on the physiological components of laughter has
shown a complex network of brain activity that underlies this highly socially relevant action.
Within the field of neuroscience, researchers have identified specific brain areas involved in
the generation and processing of laughter. A large area of the brain associated to social
emotional responses, the frontal lobe, becomes very active during laughter, while the left side
of the cortex, which oversees language and structural analysis, breaks down the words and
jokes. Understanding humour requires the cerebral analysis that the right hemisphere of the
cortex performs.
Brainwave activity is observed as the laughter progresses, reaching the part of the occipital
lobe that processes sensory information and interprets visual signals. The joke causes
simultaneous physical and cognitive reactions in the motor regions of the brain, resulting in a
holistic experience that combines both. In a more in-depth investigation, a study that used
MRI scans to examine the precise brain areas that light up when someone laughs. Three
groups of participants were formed: those who were tickled and allowed to laugh, those who
were tickled but told not to laugh, and a group that was requested to laugh out loud. The
group that laughed sincere showed regular activity in important areas, such as the lateral
hypothalamus, which is linked to functions like pain perception, eating behaviour, and
arousal. Both the amygdala, which is involved in memory processing, decision-making, and
emotional reactions, and the parietal operculum, which processes touch and warmth,
exhibited increased activity. Authentic laughter also involved a significant activation of the
right cerebellum, which is important for language, empathy, and visual attention.
Interestingly, there may be a connection between laughing and pain perception because the
periaqueductal gray matter, which is involved in analgesia, showed greater activation during
both voluntary and involuntary laughter. This research supports the therapeutic uses of
humour and raises the possibility that it could be useful in the treatment of pain. Endorphins,
which are known to have euphoric and pain-relieving properties, are released when the
ventromedial prefrontal cortex is activated during laughter. Scientists studying the evolution
of the brain have discovered that the regions responsible for laughter are located deep within
the subcortex. The more recently established brain regions in charge of higher functions like
language and memory are very different from the ancient brain regions that control
fundamental actions like breathing and basic reflexes.
Because laughing tends to escape the intervention of higher cognitive functions once it is
initiated deep within the brain, this evolutionary distinction may help to explain why it can be
difficult to control laughter, even in inappropriate contexts. On the other hand, trying to laugh
out loud is challenging as forced laughing frequently lacks the genuineness of unprompted
emotions.

Neurochemical and Hormonal Influences of Laughter:

Derks' study of brainwave activity during laughter shows how quickly electrical patterns
interact in the cerebral cortex to determine whether a reaction results in laughter. A potential
humorous stimulus causes an electrical wave to go through the brain in just four tenths of a
second; a positive charge causes no reaction, while a negative charge cause laughing.
Neuroscience has progressed to the point that brain areas linked to pathological laughter
which is observed in stroke and epilepsy have been identified. Modern imaging methods have
improved our understanding even more by revealing two different neural pathways that
control the laughing response. The brainstem, dorsal/tegmental, and thalamic/hypothalamic
sections comprise the 'involuntary' system, which also includes the amygdala. On the other
hand, the 'voluntary' system begins in the premotor/frontal opercular areas and travels
through the motor cortex, the pyramidal tract, and finally ends up at the ventral brainstem. A
centre in the dorsal upper pons responsible for coordinating laughing controls these routes.
Even with these advancements, there are still gaps in our understanding of the brain
correlates of humour since psychologists are unable to agree upon what humour's basic
elements are. The complex nature of comedy naturally presents a barrier to understanding its
brain foundations.
Turning our attention to another study, the investigation of social laughter situations reveals
some fascinating results. The thalamus, caudate nucleus, and anterior insula are the three
brain regions where this research shows a considerable increase in endorphin release. The
significant neurochemical effects of social laughter are highlighted by these regions, which
are recognized for their functions in arousal and emotional awareness. This observation is
consistent with a more comprehensive understanding of laughter as a dynamic interplay of
brain processes, particularly those related to emotional processing, rather than just a
behavioural reaction.
All these investigations provide important new understandings of the complex processes
underlying laughing. Understanding the complexities of this shared human experience
through the combination of modern imaging techniques and classical neuroscience leads to a
deeper comprehension of how humour and laughter affect our brains.

Conclusion:
In conclusion, the study of laughing, or gelotology, sheds light on the neurological
foundations of this shared human experience by revealing an interesting interaction between
ancient and modern brain structures. Laughing's complicated nature is demonstrated by the
stimulation of particular brain regions, the production of endorphins, and the various
processes involved. Understanding these processes enhances our understanding of laughter as
an interconnected component of human nature, connecting biology and emotion. As science
advances, new understandings of the neurological basis of laughter could have significant
therapeutic consequences as well as improve our understanding of the dynamic interactions
that occur within the human brain.

References:

Wild, B., Rodden, F. A., Grodd, W., & Ruch, W. (2003). Neural correlates of laughter and
humour. Brain, 126(10), 2121–2138. https://doi.org/10.1093/brain/awg226

Kret, M. E., Venneker, D., Evans, B. G., Samara, I., & Sauter, D. (2021). The ontogeny of
human laughter. Biology Letters, 17(9), 20210319. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2021.0319

Brain, M. (2023, March 8). How laughter works. HowStuffWorks.

https://science.howstuffworks.com/life/inside-the-mind/emotions/laughter3.htm

Stafford, T. (2022, February 28). What makes us laugh? BBC Future.

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20120601-what-makes-us-laugh