With so many studies and so much research about the Science of Laughter, there are numerous resources to find out more about the scientific benefits of laughter. From physical improvements (eg: Norman Cousins) to mood and emotional benefits. Laughter brings a wealth of benefits.
Science of Laughter
The links that follow are taken from a number of sources. If there are important links you feel we’ve missed, please let us know.
Brain chemicals – what’s going on in our brains and how laughter can help:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/your-neurochemical-self/202003/three-ways-laugh-more
Laughter Yoga in business – it’s seriously good! http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/laughter-inc-the-cheering-growth-of-the-chuckle-industry-8661063.html
Need more creativity? Check out this article: https://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/61610
And also this one – lots of information about Creativity using humour:
Laughter and Health
Laughter can boost heart health (article August 2023, and Brazil study). “Laughter helps the heart because it releases endorphins, which reduce inflammation and helps the heart and blood vessels relax” https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/aug/27/the-best-medicine-study-finds-laughter-is-good-for-heart-health
Smiling can trick your brain into happiness — and boost your health. A smile spurs a powerful chemical reaction in the brain that can make you feel happier.
The results revealed that an increase in secretory immunoglobulin A and a decrease in salivary cortisol were induced by pleasant emotions.
Happiness – boosts your immune system
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/6766946_The_immune_system_and_happiness
The six ways that laughter improves your life! (Heart – immunity – stress – pain – disease – longevity)
https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/six_ways_happiness_is_good_for_your_health
It just makes me feel better:
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/17439760.2015.1137624?journalCode=rpos20
Gratitude is also great for you – do it with a smile to make it even better; https://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/giving-thanks-can-make-you-happier
Laughter and stress/burnout:
Laughter and Reducing Burnout – how psychiatric nurses respond to Laughter Therapy (helps reduce burnout) – http://ijnnet.com/journals/ijn/Vol_6_No_1_June_2019/5.pdf
Happiness and heart health
University doctor provides clear PROOF that laughter is indeed brilliant medicine https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0BS4BJr7uc&feature=youtu.be
Laughter and Exercise
Study Finds Body’s Response to Repetitive Laughter is Similar to The Effect of Repetitive Exercise http://www.physiologyinfo.org/mm/What-is-Physiology/Endocrine/Press-Releases/2010-Press-Releases/Response-to-Repetitive.html
Loads of great info on Laughter: http://www.helpguide.org/life/humor_laughter_health.htm
Not high-brow, but raised brows! http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/jul/03/laughter-on-the-brain-science
Great for kids: http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/life/inside-the-mind/emotions/laughter.htm
“Scientists Hint at why Laughter Feels so good”: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/14/science/14laughter.html
http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/tech/science/2010-03-31-science-laughter_N.htm
Laughter Yoga as Laughter Therapy: http://laughteryoga.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=731:laughter-yoga-as-laughter-therapy&catid=263:laughter-yoga-for-healing-therapeutic-benefits&Itemid=457
Laughter Yoga for healing: http://laughteryoga.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=229:laughter-yoga-for-healing&catid=263:laughter-yoga-for-healing-therapeutic-benefits&Itemid=457
The biology of Joy: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1015863,00.html
The funny thing about laughter: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1015917,00.html
http://www.newscientist.com/special/secrets-of-laughter
http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20727691.500-laughters-secrets-the-sound-of-a-happy-ape.html
http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20727691.700-laughters-secrets-the-best-medicine.html
http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/science/the-science-of-happiness-45516.html
Business and Laughter.
There’s nothing quite like a laugh to make a team feel like a team, or to deal with the challenges, or to just take a break from work and boost our creativity. Here are a few articles on how Laughter and Humour can boost business, why we don’t get enough of it, and how to get some more.
Laughter in business in times of Covid: https://bookcafe.yuntsg.com/ueditor/jsp/upload/file/20200707/1594107270715008896.pdf
And a brilliant article from 2017, why business may be suffering from a lack of humour: https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/insights/humor-serious-business
Why it’s important that we focus on making meetings more fun: https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2014-43035-001
Stress and business – excellent article here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/arianna-huffington/corporate-wellness_b_2903222.html#!
Keeping us communicating, casually: https://www.wsj.com/articles/techs-next-big-task-taking-the-office-water-cooler-virtual-11599397201
Finally, enough of the science – Laughter Yoga is about laughter for no reason – but if you also like a quick chortle, here’s a list of “brain-jokes” – enjoy. http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/jokes.html
And to try out a little laughter yoga, and discover the “science of laughter” for yourself, here in Devon – contact us for more information, or see our Laughter Yoga Training courses in Devon
Staying Positive
The news is often full of negativity – but it’s great to have a positive news vibe to get all the information with only a positive slant. So here are a few spaces where you can top up on all the good stuff.
https://reasonstobecheerful.world/
https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/
