Laughter: Release of Pressure

In the article of " To Scientists, Laughter Is No Joke " by neuroscientist professor Robert Provine (cbsnews.com, AP, March 31, 2010) is a very interestingly good article, which describes the present situation of the research on the laughter. Provine has studied laughter for decades and found that laughter is mostly aboutsocial responsesrather than reaction to a joke.

As a layman in this field, I am glad that I could explain the unsolved problems here easily by our everyday common sense or our instincts.

It is quite simple as follows:

Origin

Obviously, laughter is originated from the release of tension due to one's entering into a situation which makes you happy or is greatlya-step-better for propagating one's offspringorkeeping one's DNA alive. (1) That is to say, you laugh when you feel happy or, more accurately, joy suddenly.

For examples, you laugh when you suddenly recognize:

• the one before you is not your enemy but contrarily is your old friend;
• it is a joke but not real dismay to you;
• your competitor or enemy is far weaker than you；
• ...

This is the kind of our instincts (successful experiences of our ancestors saved in DNA) so remotely old and important that even a newborn baby can recognize its mother's smile innately by bio-recapitulation. This is also the same reason that why apes laugh.

Therefore, it is not necessarily forcommunicationorsocializationas said by the researchers, though it may be used for it (symbiosis or friendship).

Ha-Ha-Ha Rhythm

By common sense, the ultra high accurate rhythm of laugh is apparently because that people have the ultra similar structure of lung and throat for releasing of tension. Just like release the gas from a rubber balloon full of compressed air.

Tickle

Obviously by common sense, tickle is very close to hug, which is an expression of very closesymbiosiscausing joy. (1) Hence, people laugh when tickling.And that is why scientists use tickle for their study.

References:#1. W. Ying,articlesbasee.com, "Happy Life, Instincts, Wisdom, and Human Computer System."

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