By Seeking Out Positive Experiences That Make Us Laugh We Can Do A Lot On Our Ow

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By Seeking Out Positive Experiences That Make Us Laugh We Can Do A

Lot On Our Own To Stay Well

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/103208.php

In 2006 researchers investigating the interaction between the brain,

behavior, and the immune system found that simply anticipating a

mirthful laughter experience boosted health-protecting hormones. Now,

two years later, the same researchers have found that the

anticipation of a positive humorous laughter experience also reduces

potentially detrimental stress hormones. According to Dr. Lee Berk,

the study team's lead researcher of Loma University, Loma

, CA, " Our findings lead us to believe that by seeking out

positive experiences that make us laugh we can do a lot with our

physiology to stay well. "

In their earlier work the researchers found that the anticipation

of " mirthful laughter " had surprising and significant effects. Two

hormones - beta-endorphins (the family of chemicals that alleviates

depression) and human growth hormone (HGH; which helps with

immunity) - increased by 27 and 87 percent respectively when

volunteers anticipated watching a humorous video. There was no such

increase among the control group who did not anticipate watching the

humor film.

Using a similar protocol, the current research found that the same

anticipation of laughter also reduced the levels of three stress

hormones. Cortisol (termed " the stress hormone " ), epinephrine (also

known as adrenaline) and dopac, a dopamine catabolite (brain chemical

which helps produce epinephrine), were reduced 39, 70 and 38 percent,

respectively (statistically significant compared to the control

group). Chronically released high stress hormone levels can weaken

the immune system.

The research is entitled Cortisol and Catecholamine Stress Hormone

Decrease Is Associated with the Behavior of Perceptual Anticipation

of Mirthful Laughter. It was conducted by Lee Berk with Stanley A.

Tan, both of the Oak Crest Health Research Institute, Loma , CA;

and Dottie Berk, Loma University Health Care, Loma . Lee

Berk is presenting the team's findings at the 121st Annual Meeting of

the American Physiological Society, part of the Experimental Biology

2008 scientific conference.

The Study

Having found that the anticipation of a laughter event increased

certain " beneficial " chemicals/hormones, the researchers proposed

that the anticipation of a laughter event might reduce stress

hormones. To test their theory they studied 16 healthy fasting male

volunteers for cortisol and catecholamine level changes. The

participants were assigned to either the control group or the

experiment group (those anticipating a humorous event).

Blood was drawn from both groups prior to the event (anticipation),

four times during the event, and three times afterward (event and

residual effect). Analysis showed that the blood levels in the

anticipatory phase decreased for stress hormones cortisol,

epinephrine and dopac in the experimental group. Trend analysis

showed a progressive pattern of the decrease for the three hormones

through the event.

As a result, the researchers suggest that anticipating a positive

event can decrease stress hormones that can be detrimental when

chronically released. These findings have implications for

understanding the modalities that can benefit stress reduction in

health and wellness programs.

The " Biology of Hope "

Norman Cousins was a journalist and an editor of the Saturday Review.

He was also a pioneer in the idea that beliefs, thoughts and emotions

have biological effects ( " biotranslation " ). His view about the body's

unrecognized ability to heal itself was captured in his 1979

book, " Anatomy of an Illness (As Perceived by the Patient). "

Forty years ago, few scientists would likely have agreed with

Cousins. Today, researchers like Berk are beginning to pinpoint

exactly what thoughts can drive which affects. Researchers like Berk

are finding that, in addition to what resides in our bodies, what

resides in our brains and mind is important, too.