A Wonderleaf question
Why do we laugh?
a real page from the book
We laugh when the brain meets a safe surprise. Something does not match what we expected, but no one is really hurt, so laughter tells the body and nearby people, all right, this is play, not danger. It turns a small alarm into shared relief.
One delightful clue comes from other animals. Tickled rats make tiny chirps, dogs have breathy play sounds, and chimps huff during rough-and-tumble games. Human laughter can spread through a room because our brains notice another person's grin and rhythm and want to join the same friendly beat.
Wonder words
- endorphins
- neurons
- rhythm
- relief
Try it out
At dinner, tell one gentle silly story and notice whether the laugh comes after surprise, relief, or someone else's smile.
Read the whole picture book
Watercolour scenes, straight answers, about three minutes cover to cover.
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