Laughter helped us to survive

Laughter always relieves anxiety and stress. It is able to mitigate negative or difficult events. There are multiple physiological, psychological, social and economic benefits. A study was devoted to detailing them. Laughter helped us to survive, more than we thought.

Humans learn to laugh before they master language: babies as young as 3 months old are able to laugh. The new study by Carlo Valerio Bellieni, from the University of Siena, shows that. Laughter is a tool that helped humanity to survive. It is part of our evolution as a species.

Laughter helped us survive as a species, according to a study.
Laughter helped us survive as a species, study finds.

The causes of laughter

what makes something funny enough to make people laugh? They analyzed 150 studies that identified several important aspects of this question. And theories of humor that provided significant information. For example: physical characteristics, related brain centers, health benefits.

The actual process of laughter was condensed into three main steps. Bewilderment, resolution, and a possible exit signal. First, the situation that seems to strange. This can trigger a sense of incongruity. Secondly, it is necessary to overcome or solve the stress caused by the incongruous situation. And finally, the actual release of laughter. This acts as a signal to alert the other spectators that they are safe.

It could serve as a way of explaining that there was no threat. Laughter is important to the physiology of the human body, Bellieni added. It acts as a “release mechanism” for the body. The brain centers that regulate this behavior are those that control emotions, fears and anxiety.

Laughter is proven to provide health benefits.
Laughter is proven to provide health benefits.

Laughter is health

Thus, laughter relieves tension and floods the body with relief. Humor is indispensable in hospital settings to help patients heal. Humor-induced laughter can also improve blood pressure and immunity.

Laughter helped us survive, even now. It decreases the risk of cardiovascular problems, strokes and heart attacks. It is beneficial for blood vessels. It affects the endothelium, a thin membrane that lines the blood vessels. When we laugh, blood flow increases and so does blood pressure. And this effect has been proven to last for 24 hours. So, let’s laugh!

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