• Question: what different areas of the brain after function when you laugh?

    Asked by eleanormulligan123 to Tim, Damien, Suzi on 23 Jun 2011. This question was also asked by harrikj.
    • Photo: Tim Fosker

      Tim Fosker answered on 21 Jun 2011:

      Hi @eleanormulligan123

      To my knowledge there is no one area of the brain involved in laughing, but we do know that parts of the limbic system (the system involved in emotions) is important for laughing.

      Most complex behaviours that require thought have been linked to the pre-frontal cortex, which seems to be involved a lot in social actions.

      Finally, the motor cortex (a section of brain involved in making our muscles move) will be involved in the action of laughing.

      I hope that answers your question.

    • Photo: Suzi Gage

      Suzi Gage answered on 23 Jun 2011:

      Hi @eleanormulligan123 and @harrikj

      Thanks for the question.
      I have not seen any experiments looking at the brain while people laugh, so I don’t know the answer I’m afraid. I think Tim’s answer is really good though. The prefrontal cortex will almost certainly be involved, and probably the ’emotional’ limbic area of the brain, and as Tim says also the motor cortex.

      Your body also reacts when you laugh, you can get red cheeks, shaking, and even crying. This is all the limbic system at work – these ‘physiological’ responses are similar to those you get when you feel strong emotions. Laughter is an emotional response, so that’s not really surprising.

      If you would just like to laugh and not worry about what your brain’s doing, have a look here
      http://ias.im/58.1575
      🙂
      Hope this answers your question a bit, or at least brings a smile to you 🙂

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