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PubMed2005

Laughter abolishes binocular rivalry.

BACKGROUND: Binocular rivalry is an increasingly popular technique for the study of consciousness, which changes quasi-regularly during rivalry, despite the unchanging sensory stimuli presented to each eye. For example, if a small patch of horizontal stripes is presented constantly to the fovea of one eye and a small patch of vertical stripes is similarly presented constantly to the fovea of the other eye, most subjects experience an alternation between stimuli rather than a simultaneous mixed percept of both. METHODS: Binocular rivalry was induced, superimposed on normal viewing, using liquid crystal shutters and a short persistence monitor, which produced a one degree circular patch of horizontal gratings to the right eye and an identical patch of vertical gratings in the same location for the left eye. The subject signalled with key presses the three possible perceptual states that alternated with each other, namely horizontal, vertical and mixed percept (where horizontal and vertical were simultaneously visible). RESULTS: The present study builds on an incidental observation that laughter stopped the rivalry alternations between horizontal and vertical and induced the mixed percept instead. A physical explanation for this effect was ruled out by using stabilised imagery in the form of retinal after-images of the rivalling gratings. Under conditions of retinal stabilisation, laughter also produced the mixed percept. CONCLUSIONS: The results are discussed in the light of recent work that indicates the inadequacy of low-level explanation of rivalry, with laughter being another complex multi-level contribution to the neural basis of rivalry, along with other aspects of mood. The results are discussed in relation to the interesting literature on the neurology and postulated functions of laughter.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Contralateral smile and laughter, but no mirth, induced by electrical stimulation of the cingulate cortex.

The cerebral representation of laughter is dissociated. The emotional aspects seem to be processed in the temporal lobe; whereas the motor features apparently rely on the frontal cortex. In a few prior studies of patients in whom laughter was elicited by electrical stimulation (ES), it always was associated with mirth. We report a patient in whom ES in the right cingulate gyrus elicited smile and laughter, but no mirth. At low voltages, smiling was seen first contralaterally and became bilateral with increasing currents. Our observation supports the concept of the motor representation of laughter in the mesial frontal cortex.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Respiratory dynamics during laughter.

Lung and chest wall mechanics were studied during fits of laughter in 11 normal subjects. Laughing was naturally induced by showing clips of the funniest scenes from a movie by Roberto Benigni. Chest wall volume was measured by using a three-dimensional optoelectronic plethysmography and was partitioned into upper thorax, lower thorax, and abdominal compartments. Esophageal (Pes) and gastric (Pga) pressures were measured in seven subjects. All fits of laughter were characterized by a sudden occurrence of repetitive expiratory efforts at an average frequency of 4.6 +/- 1.1 Hz, which led to a final drop in functional residual capacity (FRC) by 1.55 +/- 0.40 liter (P < 0.001). All compartments similarly contributed to the decrease of lung volumes. The average duration of the fits of laughter was 3.7 +/- 2.2 s. Most of the events were associated with sudden increase in Pes well beyond the critical pressure necessary to generate maximum expiratory flow at a given lung volume. Pga increased more than Pes at the end of the expiratory efforts by an average of 27 +/- 7 cmH2O. Transdiaphragmatic pressure (Pdi) at FRC and at 10% and 20% control forced vital capacity below FRC was significantly higher than Pdi at the same absolute lung volumes during a relaxed maneuver at rest (P < 0.001). We conclude that fits of laughter consistently lead to sudden and substantial decrease in lung volume in all respiratory compartments and remarkable dynamic compression of the airways. Further mechanical stress would have applied to all the organs located in the thoracic cavity if the diaphragm had not actively prevented part of the increase in abdominal pressure from being transmitted to the chest wall cavity.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Pathological laughter as an obsessive-compulsive phenomenon.

METHOD: Pathological laughter has been known to occur in organic and functional psychotic disorders and is sometimes seen in hysteria. Though it is an important phenomenon, its significance in other psychiatric disorders has been negligible. This case report highlights the phenomenology of pathological laughter as an obsessive-compulsive phenomenon in an adolescent girl. RESULTS: The girl was brought by her parents with a history of laughing without reason, but on detail evaluation, it was found that her laughing was an irrational and ego-dystonic phenomenon. She also showed resistance to her symptom. A family history of obsessive-compulsive disorder in the parental grandfather, the habit of smiling in her father and her childhood emotional trauma and sexual abuse could have contributed to the formation of the symptom. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor drugs and behavior therapy showed good improvement in this case. DISCUSSION: Pathological laughter, though common in organic and psychotic disorders, can present primarily as an obsessive-compulsive phenomenon as well. This case suggests that each and every patient with a history of pathological laughter in a psychiatry clinic should not be labeled as psychotic unless he or she is assessed in detail.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Laughter regulates gene expression in patients with type 2 diabetes.

BACKGROUND: Positive emotions influence endocrinological and immunological response. This study examined the effect of laughter,as an expression of positive emotion, in terms of gene expression changes. METHODS: Using a microarray technique, we analyzed the changes in expression of 18,716 genes from peripheral blood leukocytes in patients with type 2 diabetes, which were induced by laughter. RESULTS: Of the 18,716 genes, 23 genes showed significantly different expression changes after listening to the comic story compared to the lecture. Eight were relatively upregulated and 15 were downregulated 1.5 h after the laughing episode. However, these genes did not include genes that are directly involved in blood glucose metabolism. Among the 23 genes discriminated, all 4 genes encoding proteins involved in the immune response and all 4 signal transduction genes were downregulated. Moreover, it is noteworthy that 5 of the 8 relatively upregulated genes were related to the cell cycle, apoptosis, and cell adhesion. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated that laughter, which is an expression of positive emotion, is linked to gene expression. However, the finding of this study does not allow reasonable interpretation for the regulation of gene expression by laughter. A more focused study is needed that may identify the candidate genes for the association between physical condition and positive emotion.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

Temporary forced laughter after unilateral strokes.

Forced laughter generally occurs in bilateral or diffuse lesions of the brain and is generally associated with pathologic crying. We report the cases of 3 patients in whom temporary forced laughter occurred after unilateral supratentorial infarction demonstrated by CT scan or MRI. In all cases, the lesion was exclusively subcortical and involved the striatocapsular region. For all patients the laughter occurred during the recovery phase of motor deficit and was 'pure' without associated weeping or other clinical features of pseudobulbar palsy. In all cases, the laughter attacks had become much less frequent or had totally disappeared 1 or 2 months after the stroke. According to a 'motor' hypothesis, a unilateral striatocapsular lesion may lead to temporary deregulation of the expression mechanisms.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Healing hearts: laughter and learning.

BACKGROUND: Cultural values of Alaska Native people acknowledge laughter as good medicine. It is heard in their words and stories. METHODS: To investigate how and in what ways laughter impacts learning from the learners' perspective, cancer education course evaluations were reviewed and a survey administered. RESULTS: 94% (235/259) of Community Health Aides and Community Health Practitioners surveyed emphasized the importance of laughter to support adult learning. Written comments are grouped into three main themes: (1) supporting a comfortable learning community, (2) relieving stress, and (3) enhancing learning. DISCUSSION: This study demonstrates the value and significance of laughter to support people in their learning journey.

Alaska↗
PubMed2001

Pathological laughter as a presenting symptom of petroclival meningioma--case report.

A 35-year-old male presented with symptoms of 'pathological laughter' occurring for 6 months and progressive ataxia and right facial nerve paresis for 2 months. Neuroimaging revealed a large petroclival meningioma. The tumor was well defined and only moderately vascular, and could be relatively easily resected. The symptom of pathological laughter disappeared immediately and his gait improved to normal within a week of surgery. Pathological laughter as a presenting symptom of petroclival meningioma is extremely rare. The symptom of pathological laughter may have localizing value.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Differential effects of laughter on allergen-specific immunoglobulin and neurotrophin levels in tears.

Laughter after viewing a humorous video "Modern Times" decreased Japanese cedar pollen-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) and IgG4 levels, while it enhanced Japanese cedar pollen-specific IgA levels in tears of patients with atopic keratoconjunctivitis, while viewing a nonhumorous weather information video did not do so. Laughter after viewing "Modern Times" also decreased nerve growth factor levels without affecting neurotrophin-3 levels in tears of those patients, while viewing a weather information video did not. These results indicate that laughter decreased allergen-specific IgE and IgG4 production and increased allergen-specific IgA production with concomitant decrease in nerve growth factor. These results indicate that laughter may have some implications for study and treatment of allergic diseases.

Adult↗
PubMed1976

Posterior fossa tumors with pathological laughter.

Of two patients with posterior fossa tumor and pathological laughter, one had extrinsic compression of the brain stem; the other had an intrinsic brain-stem lesion. Surgical removal of the epidermoid from the cerebellopontine angle cured the laughter. The euphoria of multiple sclerosis with paroxysmal laughter and a feeling of joy is to be differentiated from cases in which pathological laughter is a presenting complaint.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

[Crazy laughter: first manifestation of a pontine tumour].

Crazy laughter (< >) was first described in 1903 as a prodromic symptom of an ischemic stroke and was later associated with brain lesions having a different location and etiology. We describe the case of a patient with a poorly differenciated pulmonary carcinoma who presented a centropontine image consistent with metastasis, whose initial manifestation was involuntary, persistent and unmotivated laughter that preceded other clinical manifestations. We revised, on the one hand, previous cases described in the literature of pathological laughter in relationship to structural lesions, of vascular or neoplastic etiology, and, on the other, the nervous centers and pathways that control the laughter mechanism.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

[A case of parietal lobe epilepsy with ictal laughter].

We report here about an 8-year-old boy with parietal lobe epilepsy (PLE) and ictal laughter. At the age of 6, he began to experience drop seizures, followed by sensory fits. Interictal EEG showed frequent spikes at C3, C4, P3 and Cz. Despite treatment with antiepileptic drugs, he often fell down in seizures after feeling abnormal sensations in the right shoulder. On ictal video EEG at the age of 7 years, (1) he became motionless and complained of fear and pain in the right hand, (2) he had clonic seizures of the right upper limb and fell down to his left, (3) he laughed though he did not feel funny. Ictal EEG showed spikes which originated in Pz and then were generalized. In many of the previously reported cases, ictal laughter is associated with hypothalamic hamartomas, infantile spasms,. complex partial seizures of frontal, temporal, or parietal origin. We diagnosed the present case as having PLE. However, other localization could not be roled out because the spikes were generalized quickly. To date, there are two reported cases of ictal laughter with PLE, but ictal EEG is lacking in these patients. Ictal laughter is rare in non-lesional cryptogenic PLE, but it may imply PLE's pathogenesis.

Child↗
PubMed1982

Pathological laughter. A review of the literature.

Normal laughter is a unique human behavior with characteristic facial and respiratory patterns elicited by a variety of stimulus conditions. The neuroanatomy remains poorly defined but three levels seem likely: a) a cortical level; b) a bulbar, or effector, level; and 3) a synkinetic, or integrative, level probably at or near the hypothalamus. Pathological laughter occurs when laughter is inappropriate, unrestrained (forced), uncontrollable, or dissociated from any stimulus. Pathological laughter is found in three main conditions: a) pseudobulbar palsy; b) gelastic epilepsy; and c) psychiatric illnesses. It is also found in other pathological conditions. What brings these together is their clinical similarity and probable disinhibition at higher brainstem levels.

Affect↗
PubMed1997

Laughter in the cockpit: gelastic seizures--a case report.

We present a case of gelastic seizures in a student naval aviator. He was noted to have uncontrollable fits of laughter on several occasions, but was not referred to his flight surgeon until he had a gelastic seizure while flying in formation, which jeopardized the safety of the flight. He had an aura consisting of lack of concentration, which was then followed by 10 s or less of hysterical laughter. For the previous year and a half, he had had frequent episodes of nocturnal laughter so loud that he woke members of his household and occasionally himself. His neurological evaluation was normal, except for an electroencephalogram (EEG) and a separate video recording, which documented the ictal nature of his events. Gelastic seizures have not previously been discussed in the literature of aerospace medicine. This case illustrates a rare condition that should be considered in patients presenting with inappropriate laughter, and serves as a reminder of the need for continuous, ongoing evaluation of all aircrew by the cognizant flight surgeon.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

[Preparoxysmal fits of laughter from misformation of the hypothalamus (author's transl)].

Fits of laughter have been described in a number of instances with a differentiation made between primary and secondary fits. Fits of laughter in the case of pubertas praecox resulting from a hyperplastic deformation at the base of the IIIrd ventricle have not been observed as yet. The case here described shows that fits of laughter of this type can be observed prior to commencement of the actual epileptic fit itself. A short description if given of how normal laughing and crying comes into being, referring to the relevant literature.

Brain Neoplasms↗
PubMed1999

Weak with laughter.

We found a marked reduction of H-reflex amplitude during laughter, suggesting that motor inhibition may underlie the feeling of being "weak with laughter". This effect may have a role in cataplexy, which is preferentially elicited by laughter.

Cataplexy↗
PubMed2003

An emotion-based facial expression word activates laughter module in the human brain: a functional magnetic resonance imaging study.

We report an fMRI experiment demonstrating that visualization of onomatopoeia, an emotion-based facial expression word, highly suggestive of laughter, heard by the ear, significantly activates both the extrastriate visual cortex near the inferior occipital gyrus and the premotor (PM)/supplementary motor area (SMA) in the superior frontal gyrus while non-onomatopoeic words under the same task that did not imply laughter do not activate these areas in humans. We tested the specific hypothesis that an activation in extrastriate visual cortex and PM/SMA would be modulated by image formation of onomatopoeia implying laughter and found the hypothesis to be true.

Acoustic Stimulation↗
PubMed1998

The neurology and evolution of humor, laughter, and smiling: the false alarm theory.

Laughter (and humor) involves the gradual build-up of expectation (a model) followed by a sudden twist or anomaly that entails a change in the model--but only as long as the new model is non-threatening--so that there is a deflation of expectation. The loud explosive sound is produced, we suggest, to inform conspecifics that there has been a 'false alarm', to which they need not orient. The same logic may underlie tickling (menacing approach followed by a light non-threatening contact). Thus tickling may serve as 'play', a rehearsal for adult laughter. And lastly, when one primate encounters another, he may have always begun with a threat gesture--to bare his canines--but upon recognizing the individual as kin he may stop the grimace halfway and 'smile'. When the insular cortex is damaged, patients giggle in response to pain, presumably because they can still sense the pain ('danger') but the pain is no longer aversive ('false alarm'), thereby fulfilling the two key requirements for laughter.

Biological Evolution↗