On the first Sunday of May, everyone comes together to celebrate World Laughter Day every year. Today is a reminder of the importance and benefits of laughter. Did you know that laughing can be a workout? A study by Vanderbilt University Medical Center found that 15 minutes of laughter can burn up to 40 calories (Buchowski et al., 2012). Although it may not be a replacement for the gym, if anyone is looking for a quick way to work those abdominal muscles, laughter could be an option!
There are many other benefits to laughter. First, laughing alleviates pain, improves our mood and reduces stress. A by-product of laughing is the release of endorphins, which are our body’s natural ‘pain-killer’ chemicals. Endorphins help to block the nerve cells that receive pain. So whenever we are experiencing pain or stress, we will feel better when we laugh as we will naturally feel better. In turn, it will help to improve our mood, reduce stress and promote relaxation (Mora-Ripoll, 2010).
Second, laughter is contagious and can strengthen social bonds. Manninen et al (2017) study around the effects of social laughter on endogenous opioid release. The more participants laughed, the more endogenous opioid receptors were released. With this release of these receptors, the more one is able to feel calm and pleasure. Such findings suggest that this relationship supports the formation and maintenance of social bonds.
Third, laughing helps our memory. When we laugh, our brain also releases dopamine. Beside its role as a ‘feel good’ chemical, it also plays a huge role in memory formation. A study conducted by Coronel and his colleagues (2021), they found that participants remember the content that made them laugh more. So if you are looking to remember something, maybe we can try to incorporate laughter into the process!
So let’s try to find humour in everyday life. especially in stressful or overwhelming situations. If it is shown to release tension, reduce stress and improve mood, let’s keep doing it!
To meet with a professional psychologist or counsellor, call The Other Clinic at 8809 0659 or email us hello@theotherclinic.sg.
References
Buchowski, M. S., Majchrzak, K. M., Blomquist, K., Chen, K. Y., Byrne, D. W., & Bachorowski, J. A. (2007). Energy expenditure of genuine laughter. International Journal of Obesity (2005), 31(1), 131–137. https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0803353
Coronel, J. C., O’Donnell, M. B., Pandey., P., Carpini, M. X. D., & Falk., E. B. (2021). Political Humor, Sharing, and Remembering: Insights from Neuroimaging, Journal of Communication, 71(1), 129-161. https://doi.org/10.1093/joc/jqaa041
Manninen, S., Tuominen, L., Dunbar, R. I., Karjalainen, T., Hirvonen, J., Arponen, E., Hari, R., Jääskeläinen, I. P., Sams, M., & Nummenmaa, L. (2017). Social Laughter Triggers Endogenous Opioid Release in Humans. The Journal of Neuroscience : The Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience, 37(25), 6125–6131. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0688-16.2017
Mora-Ripoll R. (2010). The therapeutic value of laughter in medicine. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, 16(6), 56–64.