homeWelcome, sign in or click here to subscribe.login
     


 

 

News


Subscriber content preview

April 2, 2010

Strange But True!

Q. What's the funniest thing about laughter?

A. Most striking and most intriguing is how contagious it is, answers Frans de Waal in “The Age of Empathy.” It's almost impossible not to join in when everybody else is laughing, the reason there have been laughter epidemics where no one could stop and some even died in a prolonged fit. This is why TV comedy shows have prompting laugh tracks and why theaters sprinkle paid “laugh plants” throughout audiences. There are even laughing churches and laugh therapy based on its healing powers. A must-have toy of a few years ago was the Tickle Me Elmo doll that would laugh hysterically when squeezed three times.


 
. . .


To read this story in full login or purchase a subscription.



Previous columns:



Email or user name:
Password:
 
Forgot password? Click here.