Laughter: A Shared Legacy Between Humans and Apes, Research Reveals
In the grand scheme of evolution, it appears humans and apes have been laughing similarly for millions of years. This intriguing revelation is the result of a recent study that investigated the laughter patterns of both humans and apes.
A Ticklish Study
The study was conducted by tickling 13 apes of various species like gorillas, orangutans, chimpanzees, and bonobos, and recording their responses. The researchers also recorded the laughter of four young children while they were being tickled and playing at home. These fresh recordings were then compared to the older recordings of the apes.
Unveiling the Laughter Connection
The comparison revealed that the laughter rhythms of humans and great apes are surprisingly similar, with regular intervals between each laugh. This similarity likely indicates a shared lineage with a common ancestor, the researchers concluded. They believe that this shared laughter style has been in existence for around 15 million years.
Laughter is a non-verbal method of conveying joy and playfulness. Although many animals can produce sounds that are similar to laughter when they are tickled, these sounds do not quite match the patterns exhibited by humans. For instance, rats emit ultrasonic squeaks when tickled.
The Evolution of Laughter
Scientists who are keen to understand how laughter evolved have studied animals' facial expressions extensively. However, less research has been conducted on the sound of laughter. In comparison to apes, human laughter has developed to become quicker and more complex.
Interestingly, the sound of our laughter changes based on the context – it can range from a polite chuckle in a professional setting to a hearty, full-bodied laugh when we are in the company of close friends.
The findings of the study were published in a science journal. The researchers believe that the evolution of laughter can be attributed to the varying social lives of different animals.
Future Research
There is a call for further research in this area, including studying the sounds made by other animals known to have playful facial expressions, like dogs, horses, and cats. Such research could offer more insights into the evolution of laughter and help us understand the similarities and differences between humans and other animals.
Why Study Laughter?
While studying the origins of laughter might seem a bit trivial, it actually plays a significant role in understanding human communication. It can also shed light on how we learned to speak. As sounds don't leave behind fossils, scientists use the available evidence to trace back our evolution, one laugh at a time.
In the grand scheme of evolution, it appears humans and apes have been laughing similarly for millions of years. This intriguing revelation is the result of a recent study that investigated the laughter patterns of both humans and apes.
A Ticklish Study
The study was conducted by tickling 13 apes of various species like gorillas, orangutans, chimpanzees, and bonobos, and recording their responses. The researchers also recorded the laughter of four young children while they were being tickled and playing at home. These fresh recordings were then compared to the older recordings of the apes.
Unveiling the Laughter Connection
The comparison revealed that the laughter rhythms of humans and great apes are surprisingly similar, with regular intervals between each laugh. This similarity likely indicates a shared lineage with a common ancestor, the researchers concluded. They believe that this shared laughter style has been in existence for around 15 million years.
Laughter is a non-verbal method of conveying joy and playfulness. Although many animals can produce sounds that are similar to laughter when they are tickled, these sounds do not quite match the patterns exhibited by humans. For instance, rats emit ultrasonic squeaks when tickled.
The Evolution of Laughter
Scientists who are keen to understand how laughter evolved have studied animals' facial expressions extensively. However, less research has been conducted on the sound of laughter. In comparison to apes, human laughter has developed to become quicker and more complex.
Interestingly, the sound of our laughter changes based on the context – it can range from a polite chuckle in a professional setting to a hearty, full-bodied laugh when we are in the company of close friends.
The findings of the study were published in a science journal. The researchers believe that the evolution of laughter can be attributed to the varying social lives of different animals.
Future Research
There is a call for further research in this area, including studying the sounds made by other animals known to have playful facial expressions, like dogs, horses, and cats. Such research could offer more insights into the evolution of laughter and help us understand the similarities and differences between humans and other animals.
Why Study Laughter?
While studying the origins of laughter might seem a bit trivial, it actually plays a significant role in understanding human communication. It can also shed light on how we learned to speak. As sounds don't leave behind fossils, scientists use the available evidence to trace back our evolution, one laugh at a time.