The Neuroscience of Laughter – Professor Sophie Scott, PhD

Why do we laugh? Is it really all about comedy and humour? Can we ever take laughter seriously? In this talk, Professor Sophie Scott will explore the evolutionary roles of laughter and explore its use by mammals.

The lecture will establish the complex ways that humans use laughter, from social bonding to jokes, address how we learn to laugh, and how our understanding of laughter changes as we age.

Professor Scott will then go on to discuss individual differences in laughter and what this may mean, explore the brain basis of laughter, and look at laughter as a communicative behaviour. Finally, the talk will establish the ways that laughter can be used, jointly, to regulate stressful situations, and the kinds of relationships where this use of laughter may be possible.

Professor Sophie Scott is a British neuroscientist, Wellcome Trust Senior Fellow at University College London, and a pioneering researcher in the science of laughter. She was the recipient of a Provost’s Award for Public Engagement in 2012, and her 2015 TED talk: ‘Why we Laugh’ has been viewed more than 3 million times.

Professor Scott’s research investigates the cognitive neuroscience of voices, speech and laughter – particularly speech perception, speech production, vocal emotions and human communication. As deputy director of the University College London’s Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Sophie seeks out the neurological basis of communication, whether it’s speech or vocalized emotion. In her spare time, she is a stand up comedian with UCL’s bright club.

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[williamyalen]

How can this fascinating (informative & entertaining) presentation, after 4 years, have only seven (7!) comments??😢

That's not only sad, but also, well, LAUGHABLE!😂

[nicolleverment]

She is an amazing lecturer and presenter. Glad I found this video

[gesudinazaret]

I think it’s well fitting that this lecture has been as fun as any stand up show out there

[elsaducker]

I found this lecture amazing. It was so refreshing to hear someone passionately committed to understanding more about a basic positive expression of emotion! One that gives us so much joy and social cohesion, and is universal, shared with other mammals and incredibly sophisticated. Fascinating. Not sure of exactly what I'm going to do with what I learnt, but I think it will stay with me a long time. Also, the delivery was wonderfully paced, well illustrated, funny and informative in equal measure. Thank you, keep up the good work!

[catherinegrindley-whitting]

What a brilliant lecture ! The Prof is amazing ! Easily understood and explained . Yay !

[fleachamberlain]

Research into laughter is definitely not trivial. I developed a propensity for laughing fits after a car accident, until, years later, Zoloft got rid of that, though it didn't help my depression. No one can explain that.

[zezefulfule]

First time in life I find somebodyelse who studies the Expression of emocionante in humans and animals.🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉😊

[fleachamberlain]

Dogs and humans have been evolving together for a long time.

[zezefulfule]

I wanted tô go on with my research of how I know how tô manipulate músculos and b9nes tô change, for 8nstance, depression in my patients..but here in No money or disposition😢😢😢😢

[jy]

I doubt if many people watched this whole video or there would be more comments. Some. like me, do not worship the great god DARWIN ---- others hoped it would be a string of jokes, and were disappointed ---- but those who listened to the end appreciated its worth. My ninety years of experiences are clambering to be expressed all the louder. I have been blessed with a sense of humour ---- that does not include red nose day ---- but which is saving my sanity ---- despite a life of suffering a very rare disability ---- recruitment distortion ----
Three years ago i discovered i have been lip-reading all my life ---- this and an unusual spelling of my name ---- have made my life a "one woman soap opera". MY MEDICAL NOTES ARE HILARIOUSLY funny ---- if only they were not "life threatening".

[fleachamberlain]

Please stop saying yawning because everytime someone does, I yawn. 😂

[zezefulfule]

Because people dont u desta de the magnitude of laughter in our reality..sad