What Is Laughter, Anyway?

What Is Laughter, Anyway? laughing at things that aren't funny

Why do we laugh at things that aren’t funny?
Several parts of your brain work together to process sensory information that induces laughter. That makes sense when it’s a droll comment in a fussy British TV show or a YouTube vid of a dude getting nailed in the nuts by a Frisbee — but it’s more confusing when it’s one of Uncle Randy’s terrible jokes at family dinners. But again, about 80 percent of the time, your laughter has nothing to do with humor. You laugh at Uncle Randy to prevent social awkwardness. You laugh at funerals to relieve tension. You laugh at the suffering of your enemies because … well, because it’s funny.

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Can laughing really make you healthier?
Not really. But happy and healthy people probably tend to laugh more. “Any health benefits are secondary to the social benefits of laughter,” Provine says. “If you’re laughing often with friends and family, it’s a sign that your life is probably going well.”