Laughter is a universal human expression, but it’s not unique to humans. Researchers have found that great apes, including chimpanzees, bonobos, gorillas, and orangutans, also exhibit laughter-like behaviors.

Similarities in Laughter Patterns

A recent study published in the journal Communications Biology compared laughter in humans to laughter in great apes. The researchers analyzed recordings of laughter from four chimpanzees, three bonobos, two gorillas, four orangutans, and four people. They found that laughter in each species followed a regular rhythmic pattern, with evenly spaced intervals between successive sounds.

According to Chiara De Gregorio, a primatologist and lead author of the study, ‘Human laughter shares the same basic evolutionary roots as great ape laughter, but it differs in important ways.’ Human laughter is faster, more variable, and more sensitive to social context than the laughter of other great apes.

The study suggests that laughter may have evolved as a social signal to maintain positive interactions and strengthen social bonds. In humans, laughter has taken on many additional social functions, but its origins likely lie in play.

Implications for Understanding Human Speech

The findings of the study may have implications for understanding the origins of human speech. By studying laughter in our closest relatives, we can better understand not only where language came from but also the social and emotional foundations that make us human.

Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.