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April 18 @ 10:45 am – 12:45 pm BST
Laughter: A Social Vocalization with Evolutionary Roots
Professor Sophie Scott will discuss the fascinating science of laughter in this talk. She will explore the evolutionary history of laughter, its role in human interactions, and its neurobiology.
Laughter is often associated with humour, but in fact, most of the time we laugh, it has nothing to do with humour at all. Laughter is primarily a social behaviour, and we are much more likely to laugh when we are with other people.
Professor Scott will explain how laughter may have evolved from play vocalizations in other mammals. She will also discuss the different ways that laughter is used in human interactions, such as to bond with others, to signal cooperation, and to reduce tension.
Finally, she will explore the neurobiology of laughter, and how it is controlled by different parts of the brain. She will also discuss the many benefits of laughter, both physical and mental.
