• Question: Why do we laugh?

    Asked by to sakshisharda, Naomi, Mathew, Ian, Edward on 20 Jun 2014. This question was also asked by .
    • Photo: Naomi Osborne

      Naomi Osborne answered on 20 Jun 2014:

      Hi Beth!

      Funny you ask that (sorry, bad pun!) The part of our brain that controls laughing is one of the oldest parts, so laughing is thought to be something we’ve developed through evolution so we can’t help but laugh when we find something humorous. When you tickle apes, they make a panting sound (check out this funny video – http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8083230.stm), which is their laughing – it’s evolved as a way to bond and communicate.

      Why we laugh is because it’s hardwired into our brains, because we want to and because it helps us fit it.

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