Why laughter is contagious
How many times has it happened that when one person starts laughing, it takes no time till everybody else in the group starts rolling too? And now, researchers have found clues behind this common phenomenon and have explained why laughter is so contagious.
Sophie Scott at University College London measured the brain activity of 20 volunteers in a functional MRI scanner while she played them laughter, squeals of triumph and moans of fear and disgust.
She also played a neutral, artificial sound that would have no specific meaning to the subjects.
It was found that all the emotive sounds triggered a response in the brain's premotor cortical, the area that controls the movement of facial muscles.
Inside the brain scanners, though, the subjects were not actually using these muscles.
To Scott, that indicates the brain is wired with "mirror circuits" that prime us to copy another's behaviour when we recognise their emotions.
The brain response was more pronounced for the sounds of laughter and triumph than the vocalisations of negative emotions, suggesting that the urge to copy is greatest when we hear another's delight or amusement.
That may explain how laughter is contagious, but the researchers wondered why should it be so.
One explanation stems from its evolutionary origins in rough-and-tumble play, where laughter sends out a clear message that the fighting is not for real.
"It might be important to have the whole group safely signal this so that a play fight does not turn ugly because someone ''didn't get the memo,''" New Scientist quoted Christian Hempelmann at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, as saying.
On the other hand, Scott believes that mirroring another's emotional state might ease communication and interaction.
Laughing at the same joke would help us to show affiliation with others, and this may be why it is especially contagious.
"Laughter is an incredibly binding thing," she said.
The study has been published in the Journal of Neuroscience.
Article Source:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/spirituality/self-help/Why-laughter-is-contagious/articleshow/6204379.cms
Spread Your Positivity Like a Virus!
Are you the only optimistic person you know? Perhaps that one person in the office who always says something can't be done? Perhaps your spouse or loved one who is constantly negative, the kind of person that would see one tiny cloud in the sky as an indication of a gloomy day. Or even a good mate who 'knows' the home team will lose because...well...because he just knows it. Or that one person in your drinking group that is constantly complaining about anything under the sun.
If you are in this situation and you're bursting with positivity and personal growth that just does not seem to be catching on with the ones you know, there are a few tactics you can deploy to get those negative bugs off. It's important to want to change someone's negative perception because sooner or later, their negativity can infect you! And that is the LAST thing you want!
SMILE
Always smile. Keep that frown off your face. A smile can spread on and on. When you smile you radiate happiness. When others see you smile, they have to return it. DO a test. Do a random smile test now. Right now! Just take a stroll through your neighborhood or at the gym. Smile at everyone that crosses your path. Chances are there will be more people smiling back at you. And when they do, even if they are having the toughest day of their life, just by smiling at you, a little positivity will seep into them. It can't be helped!
COMPLIMENT
Say something nice to the person whose pessimistic vibes are really getting to you. Compliments are a great way to make someone's day and occasionally, that good feeling will be a reminder for that person about what's good in their life. So give a compliment but one that's well meant and not just another cliche like "You look great!' Something specific like "I like it when you smile, it lights up your face." usually does well to inject some positivity into someone.
TO HELL WITH PUNISHMENTS
The worst thing you can do to a super negative person is to punish them. Let's say your child does not have much confidence and because of that negativity, he does not do well in school, punishing the kid won't do well for his esteem. Or if your friend is always late, teasing him or getting angry at his lack of time management won't help you one bit. In fact it might make him want to piss you more the next time. Punishments reinforce negativity, they don't elevate them. Which takes us to the final tactic.
POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT
If you are stuck with a person oozing negativity, gently nudge them with positive thoughts. Instead of pinpointing on the things they do wrong, point out what they do right. Say your always-late pal, if he ever happens to make it early (or earlier than usual) one day, tell him how good it is that he made it on time and how much you appreciate it. Positive encouragements are baby steps to wonderful positivity. Or if your spouse says that she thinks she's not good enough the higher job position, don't say ' Well, if you think you can't you won't." instead say "You know what? I believe in you." It's a great way to instill positivity and motivate personal growth in any person!
Article Source:
http://ezinearticles.com/?Spread-Your-Positivity-Like-a-Virus!&id=4313557
The Many Benefits of a Good Laugh
We’ve all heard that eating chocolate and having sex are two activities that stimulate those “feel-good” receptors in our brains, but did you know that there is another activity that falls into the same category? Yes it’s laughter! Simply enjoying a good laugh also causes the release of dopamine, the neurotransmitter associated with the reward center of the brain.
Laughter raises our tolerance to pain (how exactly is not understood) but instead of watching the news the next time you’re on the treadmill, turn on a comedy show and see what a difference it makes.
- Up to 15 muscles are activated, just to make us smile.
- Heart rate and blood pressure go briefly up, but then below baseline, which is similar to what happens after exercise.
- The diaphragm, the large muscle just under our lungs, flexes in an out, pulling air in and pushing it out. This not only produces laughter as air rushes through the vocal cords, but also fills the blood with oxygen, which flows throughout the rest of the body.
- Blood flow to the face increases, giving us a happy glow and oxygenating the skin.
- A good laugh ‘till you cry is good for you, since tears (both the happy and sad kind) can reduce symptoms of stress.
- Studies have shown that laughter may help boost immunity by raising levels of disease-fighting agents, namely immunoglobulins and killer-T cells.
- Studies have also linked regular laughter with improved glucose levels in those suffering from diabetes.
- If we’re laughing hard enough, we can infect those around us – laughter is contagious, and it makes everyone feel good!
Article Source:
http://www.dietivity.com/how-to-stop-stress-eating-can-laughter-therapy-help-with-weight-loss/
