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 As you know, laughter is good for your health and it can even help you lose weight too. But you may not know the simple act of laughing can be contagious to others too, according to a new study.
British researchers measured the brain responses of a group of volunteers exposed to a group of sounds -- ranging from a shout of triumph or laughter to a dejected scream -- with a fMRI scanner. Positive sounds elicited responses in the patient's premotor cortical region of their brain that prepares one's facial muscles to respond.
That fact alone may explain why you smile involuntarily when hearing someone laugh. On the other hand, negative sounds of screams didn't manufacture facial changes, a sign that our brains are wired to avoid them, scientists said. And, some believe laughter, especially in groups, predated language.
If you're at all skeptical, watch this video of a giggling baby and see how hard it is not to laugh. Your heart, health and loved ones will thank you for it...
Journal of Neuroscience, Vol. 26, No. 50, December 13, 2006: 13067-13075
Wellcome Trust December 13, 2006
MSNBC December 12, 2006
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