Laughter: Quiz and Video

Come on, just that title alone should make you laugh. It’s pretty ridiculous.

But actually, I do have a laughter quiz and video for you. And the video make you laugh, 65% guaranteed.

Why 65%?

Because seeing other people laugh reflexively makes us laugh, like yawning. Research shows it’s triggered by a neural circuit in the brain.

Then why not 100%?

Because it’s scientifically proven that people laugh much more (up to 30X as much) around other people. Essentially, it’s a human communication mechanism, a rudimentary vocabulary programmed in our “lizard” brain.

So maybe grab a friend before you watch the video. Or do your own before-and-after study and see if you get the same results.

BUT FIRST! A pop quiz on laughter. (Answers below the video.)

How many times does the average adult laugh per day?
Who laughs more: men or women?
What was the first TV show to use canned laughter?
Does laughter make you live longer?
True or False: There has never been a recorded outbreak of contagious laughter.

And now for the promised reward …

LAUGHTER QUIZ ANSWERS

1. How many times does the average adult laugh per day?

Seventeen, at least according to this article.

2. Who laughs more: men or women?

Women. That might not be a surprise. But according to this study, “In cross-gender conversations, females laughed 126% more than their male counterparts.” Interestingly, in their follow-up study of 3,745 personal ads, “females were 62% more likely to mention laughter in their ads, and women were more likely to seek out a ‘sense of humor’ while men were more likely to offer it.”

Perhaps that explains my odd attraction to Chevy Chase.

3. What was the first TV show to use canned laughter?

The Hank McCune Show (1950–1953)

4. Does laughter make you live longer?

No, unfortunately. The theory goes that positive people are more likely to take risks, thus decreasing their longevity results overall. However, laughter does lower blood pressure by increasing vascular blood flow and oxygenating the blood, so that’s not exactly bad for you either.

It’s also been proven to increase pain tolerance. (Hmmm. Maybe that’s we laugh when we’re tickled … )

5. True or False: There has never been a recorded outbreak of contagious laughter.

False. In 1962 there was a bizarre outbreak of contagious laughter in Tanganyika. It began among 12- to 18-year-old schoolgirls and rapidly rose to epidemic proportions, “infecting” nearly 1000 people in adjacent communities. Schools were even closed! It lasted six months.

Oddly, my laugh isn’t a laugh at all. It’s this weird, silent, open-mouthed, doubled-over contortion. What about you? What kind of laugh do you have?

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