laughing

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Laughing may be rewarding in terms of relationships

12/31/2003

The beneficial effect that laughter has on a person's wellbeing is no

joke, according to a new study that explains how humor influences

brain activity.

During the trial, the investigators issued the participants a series

of comic strips, some of which that were meant to be funny and some

that omitted the funny cues. After reading a cartoon, the volunteers

pressed on a button to signal whether they thought it was humorous.

MRI scanning was used to demonstrate how humor affects brain activity.

By observing the brain activity in someone who laughed while reading a

comic strip, the investigators found that laughter activates a brain

network known to be associated with reward.

According to lead study author Dr. Allan Reiss, " [Humor] often

dictates if, how and with whom we establish friendships and even

long-lasting friendships. "

The researchers suggested that learning more about the brain's

response to humor might be useful in understanding depressive

disorders and gauging a patient's response to treatment for

depression, in which a common symptom is the inability to appreciate

humor. Additionally, humor has been shown to play a role in other

conditions, including the sleep disorder narcolepsy, they said.

" I believe that understanding humor is fundamental to understanding

many aspects of `normal' human social behavior, " Dr. Reiss said. He

noted that people who lack a sense of humor might experience serious

problems in their relationships.

" Perhaps they are missing this reward link in their circuitry, " Dr.

Reiss explained.

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