The Science Behind: Laughter (Cover- Sara Chaudhari)
Ever wonder why people laugh? Why they giggle at serious or inappropriate moments?
We all have heard of the old saying " Laughter is the best medicine", but is it true? Many people had these questions that were never answered. That's why I'm here to answer all the questions that you might have.
We laugh or giggle because of the hormones released in our body. So, what are hormones?
Hormones are substances produced by different glands across our bodies. They travel through our blood and send messages to various parts of our body.
There are some hormones that help to increase positive feelings, including happiness and pleasure. These hormones are also known as "Happy Hormones". These Happy Hormones include:
1) Dopamine: It is an important part of the brain and is correlated with pleasurable sensations, along with learning, memory, and, more.
2) Serotonin: It helps improve your mood, sleep, appetite, and memory.
3) Oxytocin: It is also called the "Love Hormone". It helps promote trust, empathy, and bonding in relationships. For example relationship between a father and a daughter.
4) Endorphins: It's your body's natural pain reliever. It is produced by your body in response to stress or anxiety.
"Humans start laughing as early as 3 months into life, even before they speak. This is true even for babies that have disabilities."
Laughing is a way to signal another person that you wish to connect with them. When some people get anxious they laugh at serious or sad moments because of the hormones released by the body in response to anxiety. Hearing somebody else laugh might even make you laugh and feel better.
Laughter is indeed the most infectious thing in this world - Smile at someone and in all likelihood, you are going to get a smile back...Try it 😊
If you have any questions or feedback let me know in the comments below.
Love,
Saumya
Sources: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-do-we-laugh/
https://www.healthline.com/health/happy-hormone
https://www.healthline.com/health/can-you-die-from-laughing#possible-causes-of-death