 The reasons we laugh, including "contagious"
laughter, may be products of evolution.
Natural laughter is a two-part, spontaneous, response to
humor, that has physiological, psychological, and physical
benefits.
Most agree that we laugh when we find something to be
humorous, yet different reasons exist for what we find to be
humorous. Additionally, different things are humorous to us at
different stages of life.
Laughter, a physiological response to humor, can be broken
down into two parts.
The first is a set of gestures, and the second is the
production of sound. The brain forces to conduct both
responses simultaneously. From a physiological standpoint, a
"sensor" in the brain responds to laughter by
triggering other neural circuits in the brain, which,
in turn, generate more laughter.
Oddly enough, laughter is an orderly response, and almost
occurs "spontaneously" during pauses at the end of phrases,
earning it the name the punctuation effect. Human beings are
the only species capable of laughter, and the average adult
does so approximately 17 times per day.
Good health is one of the many benefits of laughter.
Laughter reduces our stress levels by reducing the level of
stress hormones, and also helps us cope with serious
illnesses.
 Physiologically, laughter promotes healing, by
lowering the blood pressure, and by increasing the vascular
blood flow and the oxygenation of the blood.
Physical fitness stemming from laughter is a benefit known
to few. Scientists estimate that laughing 100 times is
equivalent to a 10-minute workout on a rowing machine, or to
15 minutes on a stationary exercise bike. The mere act of
laughing exercises the diaphragm, as well as the
abdominal, respiratory, facial, leg, and back
muscles.
Another benefit of laughter is that it improves our
over-all mental health. Pent up negative emotions, such as
anger, fear, and sadness, can cause biochemical changes in our
bodies that can produce a harmful effect.
Laughter provides a harmless outlet for these
negative emotions, and provides a coping mechanism for dealing
with difficult or stressful situations. |
探測器
刺激
胸隔膜
腹部的
呼吸的
發泄
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