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Laughter Research

In the Laughter Research Podcast, I explore the phenomenon of laughter, from the fascinating science of laughter research, to the joys of laughing until you cry. The show is a mix of interviews and commentary by me - Glen Duggan. I've a Ph.D. in psychology, with a specialisation in laughter, so you could say that I have a serious interest in the topic.

My guests vary from academics, such as psychologists and sociologists, to entrepreneurs and comedians. In each episode I explore the role which laughter plays in our daily lives and I examine the truths and the myths around laughter. Is laughter purely a physiological response, or is it a social and culturally mediated means of communication?

Music by jasonshaw@audionautix.com

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  2. Neuroscience of Laughter

Neuroscience of Laughter

Apr 2, 2015

Professor Sophie Scott is the deputy director for the Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience in UCL (University College London).

While the main focus of her research is the neurobiology of speech perception, her work also includes the study of the neuroscience of laughter. She also dabbles in stand-up comedy.

Sophie believes that laughter is one of the most complex and nuanced things that we do. She feels that we should take laughter more seriously, both in terms of science, but also in terms of our experience, because very often, our laughter is telling us a lot more about how we feel about people we are laughing with than we might typically acknowledge to ourselves. 

In this episode we discuss the evolutionary basis for laughter, social differences in comedy appreciation, the neurology & physiology of laughter, how science is beginning to take laughter more seriously and a host of other topics in between.