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As Robert R. Provine puts it, "chimpanzee laughter has the sound and cadence of a handsaw cutting wood," explaining why one might not recognize the laughter responses of animals (3). Furthermore, the laughter response of rats is merely an ultrasonic chirp (4). Animals lack the cognitive complexity that humans possess, restricting the less advanced, such as rats, to laughter induced only by tickling. However, the rats that chirped most were also the most eager to be tickled (4). This corroborates allegations that the reward system of the prefrontal cortex is responsible for the enjoyment of laughter. This reward system is involved in the compulsion to continue all enjoyable activities, invoking through desire those activities necessary for life, such as eating and sex, and entreating others that are unnecessary, such as drug addiction. In any case, the reward system relies on the release of dopamine in the prefrontal cortex, a pleasure-inducing neurotransmitter (5). This pathway is activated by a reward stimulus, and in the case of personal amusement, the reward stimulus is something that causes the subject to
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This type of input doesn't always cause laughter, however. Unexpected events or stimuli can cause either 1) acute stress, if the implications are negative, or 2) humorous response, if the significance is negligible. Stress is dealt with in a number of ways, but the primary physical responses to relieve stress are laughing and crying. Both are completely natural responses and relieve the muscle tension caused by stress. Although it is understandable that one would prefer to laugh than cry for obvious reasons, there are also biological benefits to laughing for stress relief. Laughter boosts endorphins, and causes the reduction of certain neuroendocrine hormones: epinephrine, cortisol, dopac, and growth hormone, all of which are part of the body's stress response. For example, during stress, the adrenal gland releases corticosteroids, converted to cortisol in the bloodstream, which has an immunosuppressive effect. The experience of laughing lowers cortisol levels in the bloodstream and consequently boosts T-cell activity
This type of input doesn't always cause laughter, however. Unexpected events or stimuli can cause either 1) acute stress, if the implications are negative, or 2) humorous response, if the significance is negligible. Stress is dealt with in a number of ways, but the primary physical responses to relieve stress are laughing and crying. Both are completely natural responses and relieve the muscle tension caused by stress. Although it is understandable that one would prefer to laugh than cry for obvious reasons, there are also biological benefits to laughing for stress relief. Laughter boosts endorphins, and causes the reduction of certain neuroendocrine hormones: epinephrine, cortisol, dopac, and growth hormone, all of which are part of the body's stress response. For example, during stress, the adrenal gland releases corticosteroids, converted to cortisol in the bloodstream, which has an immunosuppressive effect. The experience of laughing lowers cortisol levels in the bloodstream and consequently boosts T-cell activity