Curious Cases Chuckle, Snigger and LOL
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May 30, 2025 
This week, Sophie Scott, Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience at UCL, shares insights into the fascinating world of laughter. Why do we laugh, and is it just a quirky human trait? Sophie explains how laughter fosters social bonds and alleviates stress, revealing its power in relationships and even dating. The discussion dives into genuine laughs versus polite chuckles and explores the evolutionary significance of laughter in both humans and animals. Get ready to chuckle as they unveil the science behind that belly laugh!
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Laughter Mainly Social Bonding
- Most laughter in social interactions is not about jokes but social bonding and communication.
- Conversational laughter is timed to fit speech rhythms, often controlled like in stand-up comedy.
Laughter Eases Social Tensions
- Sophie Scott shares how laughter diffused a scary accident with her neighbor and eased a rude situation on a train.
- She highlights laughter's role in maintaining social bonds and smoothing social interactions.
Spontaneous vs Volitional Laughs
- Scientists distinguish spontaneous, involuntary laughter from volitional, socially controlled laughter.
- People can usually tell genuine laughter from scripted or forced laughter by pitch and sound qualities.