Do Animals Laugh?

A person might ask: do animals laugh?

What is animal laughter?  Is it similar to that of a human?  Do the emotions that elicit laughter from humans also apply to other animals?  Can all animals laugh or only a select few species?

Animal laughter is a peculiar topic.  Many humans think that our species is special.  While that is certainly true, it is speculated that laughter evolved prior to the origin of humans.  That speaks to just how natural laughter is; if animals around the world share it with us.

Animals have been found to have animal behaviour that resembles human laughter.  Animals that demonstrate vocalizations similar to human laughter include; non-human primates such as chimpanzees, gorillas, and orangutans; rats; dogs; and, obviously, humans.

Laughter in animals other than humans is commonly a response to physical contact, such as wrestling, play chasing, or tickling.  Humans and other mammals share similar ticklish areas on the body such as the armpits and belly.

A dog's laugh sounds like a pant.  A sonograph can be used to analyze the varying bursts of frequencies that come with the pant, resulting in laughter.  It is found that dog-laugh vocalization, when recorded and played to dogs in a shelter setting, can increase tail wagging, promote social behavior, initiate play, and decrease stress levels.  Sound similar?  Besides the tail wagging part, these same things can be, and usually are, brought out by human laughter.

Rat laughter, different than that of a dog's, cannot be heard by humans without special equipment.  During rough play and when being tickled, rats emit high frequency, ultrasonic vocalization.  The laugh is described as distinct "chirping".  Like humans, rats have ticklish skin and certain areas of the body that generate more laughter response than others.  A rat's laughter is associated with positive emotional feelings.  It has been indicated that rats can indeed laugh and express joy.

Chimpanzees generate alternating inhalations and exhalations that sound like breathing and panting, but is actually laughter.  It sounds similar to screeching.  This response from non-human primates is elicited from physical contact, such as rough play or tickling.  The difference between chimpanzee and human laughter may be the result of adaptations that have evolved to enable human speech.  Still, chimpanzees have been reported to express joy just like humans do.

Research has noted the similarity in forms of laughter among humans and non-human primates when being tickled.  Humans and these primates share similar ticklish areas and also similar facial expressions that are associated with joy.

Contrary to what many humans believe, we are similar in many ways to other animals.  We all have laughter.  We can all express joy.  After all, without laughter, how else could happiness be expressed?  The two coexist, depend on each other.  Like how we depend on the sun for life, humor depends on laughter to survive.

Can you die laughing?

A person might ask: is it possible to die from laughter?  What other negative aspects might laughing entail?

During the holidays, laughter seems to be everywhere.  People are smiling, having fun.  Laughter is in the air.  But, what are the downfalls?

Despite the many benefits, laughter is not always a pleasant experience.  Some negative aspects are associated with expressing intense joy.  Although these negativities are relatively rare, they have the possibility of resulting in death.

Excessive laughter can be dangerous.  It sometimes leads to cataplexy (sudden physical collapse, though remaining conscious, caused by strong emotion).  The upside: negative aspects of laughter often occur in people who are unhealthy or have a medical condition.  Eat your vegetables!

In some people, laughter is uncontrollable.  Literally.  They describe a fit of laughter as a time when they cannot control their body, which sometimes leads to seizures of brief periods of unconsciousness.  Some believe that fits of laughter represent a form of epilepsy (sudden recurrent episodes of sensory disturbance, loss of consciousness, or convulsions associated with abnormal electrical activity in the brain).

Death from laughter isn't common by any means, but it does exist.  In these rare instances, fits of laughter can cause a cardiac arrest (cessation of function of the heart) or asphyxiation (suffocation or the condition of being deprived of oxygen).  Death is never pleasant, but at least these people died with a smile on their faces.

Moral of this story: stay healthy and don't laugh excessively.  When laughing, make sure to take breaks in between and catch your breath.

So, although laughter definitely has its perks, beware: it can also lead to death in extreme cases.  Happy holidays!