There are few things that leave a better feeling than a real laugh . Traditionally associated with well-being and comfort, laughter is an element that has always been part of our way of acting and is an emotional expression that we share with other species such as chimpanzees.

But while we usually laugh when we feel happy and full, we may also laugh out of nervousness, and even cynically and falsely at something that hurts, outrages or disgusts us. In reality, we can laugh about many things and in many different ways. And although it is something we see and experience very often, it is worth asking What is laughter? What is it for? How many types are there? In this article we will make a brief exploration of the topic.

Laughter: what is it?

What we understand by laughter is the union of a set of oral and facial movements that we perform while emitting. Laughing implies an alteration of different systems such as the respiratory (the entry of air becomes irregular while the laughter lasts) and cardiac systems, which are stimulated by this action, while at the same time a total of around fifteen facial muscles contract and dilate.

Blood flows to the face, reddening it to a greater or lesser extent, and if the laughter is sincere and strong it is possible to get tears or even experience gastrointestinal disturbances. As far as the emission of sound is concerned, we emit a chain of sounds of the same tone that is repeated every 210 milliseconds.

Laughter is a physiological response that occurs as a reaction to external or internal stimulation . It is a reaction to stimulation that helps us to discharge the energy caused by certain aspects, generally emotional. What exactly causes laughter is something that has been analysed and discussed, with differences depending on the type of emotional reaction that causes it.

Laughing is not something unique and specific to humans, but has also been reflected in other primates , dogs and even rats. It generally arises at times when the subject feels well and enjoys the situation in which he or she finds him or herself at this moment, the content of the interaction or aspects inferred from the behaviour of oneself or others.

Brain disorders during laughter

The neurological pathways that are activated during laughter can be multiple depending on the type of laughter being emitted , the emotions that are awakened or the sincerity with which it is emitted.

If laughter is generated due to an external stimulus, such as a conversation, it is first detected by the Wernicke area of the left parietal and then connected to the hippocampus, basal ganglia and limbic system (in which the emotional significance of the event that will generate the laughter is evaluated). The brain’s reward system synthesizes and releases a stream of dopamine if the information is assessed as positive and original.

Endorphins and oxytocin are also generated, which explains the feelings of relaxation and fullness that come with sincere laughter.

In this way, we can generally say that when it comes to laughing, the limbic system and its connection with the prefrontal cortex (which regulates social stimuli and the inhibition of emotions and contributes to the processing of information), as well as with the basal ganglia (especially the nucleus accumbens) and in general the brain’s reward circuit, are of great importance. The primary motor cortex and the premotor cortex are also linked, although in this case laughter is usually voluntary and forced. Finally, the autonomic nervous system responses that produce redness and tearing .

Functions and benefits of laughter

We have talked about what laughter is and the brain structures involved in it, but is it beneficial for us? what is the function of laughter?

The answer to the first question is yes, because of the different functions and advantages of laughing.

1. Allows the release of energy caused by emotions

We can imagine laughter as an explosive reaction, which arises more or less suddenly . The movements carried out allow us to exteriorize our emotions and reduce the level of internal tension that they generate in our organism. This is true of both positive and negative emotions.

2. It causes physical and psychic activation

Although the previous point refers to the fact that it allows energy to be released, the truth is that another of the functions of laughter is to provoke an increase in one’s activity . Laughing tends to clear our minds and recharge our energy reserves, improving our mood and prompting us to act.

3. Decreases stress and pain

Laughing has been shown to increase the levels of dopamine and oxytocin , as well as to generate a significant decrease in the level of cortisol in the blood. In this way, laughter helps to reduce the level of stress and anxiety. It also reduces the level of perceived pain.

4. Improve our health

One of the many benefits of laughter is the fact that it improves our health status by improving the functioning of the immune system and the ability to oxygenate , stimulating our heart rate and lowering blood pressure.

5. Function of adaptation to the social environment

Laughing is an act of communication that humans and most species that manifest the capacity to do so use as a bonding mechanism. It is an action that facilitates social interaction and connection with others , an aspect that is enhanced because, as it is contagious, it facilitates the same emotional state in others. In addition, hormones are released that facilitate feeling good and close to the environment with which we laugh.

Within the social functions of laughter we find the fact that it allows us to approach and encourage belonging to a group, as well as reducing tensions between group members. It also allows a management of the conflict in which it is possible to negotiate, share and contrast the existing perspectives in the group about certain realities.

6. Generates sexual attraction

Several studies indicate that a sense of humor and the ability to laugh greatly influence whether a person is attracted to another person. Generally, heterosexual men are attracted to women who tend to laugh in a genuine way , while women are attracted to men who, although they do not have to laugh often, have a sense of humour and know how to make them laugh.

7. Has defensive functions

Laughter also has a psychic function linked to self-defense. Through laughter the human being is able to reduce the level of fear and anxiety generated by different external or internal stimuli. It also allows us to put situations into perspective, and is even linked to the capacity for resilience or overcoming adversity.

It is also an element that usually arises when we become aware of a cognitive dissonance , as a mechanism to reduce the level of stress that it produces in us.

8. But also offensive

Although in general laughter is linked to positive feelings, we cannot ignore that on many occasions it is also used in an aggressive way to attack or control our fellow men . This is what happens when laughter is used to make fun of or laugh at other people. Through laughter an attempt can be established by the attacker to feel superior to the attacked and either dominate the concrete situation or diminish one’s own state of dissatisfaction. This can occur at a conscious or unconscious level.

Different types of laughter

There are multiple classifications in terms of types of laughter , and typologies can be made depending on the level of intensity, the function they have or whether the laughter in question is genuine or voluntary.

Technically, hundreds of them could be described. A few are highlighted below.

1. Genuine laughter

This is the type of natural and involuntary laughter , caused by stimulation or emotions without there being a target for its emission. It is the type of laughter that generates significant benefits. It is generally linked to happiness or positive aspects.

2. Simulated laughter

It is a laugh that occurs intentionally and voluntarily . This group can include social laughter. It is generally carried out when the person who is laughing has a specific objective, whether it is to belong to the group, to generate bonds, to show displeasure or irony or to attack someone.

3. Social Laughter

This laughter is usually a subtype of the simulated ones, although it can also be genuine. This is the use of laughter as a communicative element with our fellow human beings , aimed at expressing approval or appreciation, or generating bonds.

4. Substance-induced laughter

Some substances, medications and drugs can induce in subjects states of happiness, well-being and expansive moods that can end up causing laughter. It is also possible that they provoke laughter without arousing positive emotions .

5. Pathological laughter

Certain neurological and/or psychiatric pathologies can occur with sudden laughter , out of place or without a reason for such laughter. These may be empty laughs, and unless they are accompanied by the relevant emotional reaction, they do not generate any health benefits.

6. Laughter caused by tickling

Tickling, the pleasant stimulation of certain sensitive regions of our body such as the armpits, feet, neck or even hands, can generate in a large number of people a reaction in the form of laughter. This type of laughter is special, since the stimuli that provoke it are physical . However, it should be noted that they also occur in a context where we are in contact with other people, generally in a playful environment (despite the existence of related tortures).

7. Denigrating laugh

This type of laughter serves the function of ridiculing another person . It is a laugh provoked for a certain purpose, being generally simulated.

8. Nervous laughter

This type of laughter is usually genuine, although not due to pleasant feelings but to the need to lower the level of internal tension that the person suffers due to nervousness or stress . Basically the subject laughs because he does not know how to react to a situation or what to do next.

Bibliographic references:

  • Díez, S. (2005). Laughing, the best anti-stress. Mente Sana magazine, 5; 134-136.
  • Wildgruber, D.; Szameitat, D.P.; Ethofer, T.; Brück, C.; Alter, K.; Grodd, W. & Kreifelts, B. (2013). Diferentes tipos de risa modulan la conectividad dentro de las distintas partes de la red de percepción de la risa. PLoS ONE 8 (5). e63441. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0063441