I was going to call it the "I am bored so tell me something funny" thread but then decided against it and went with Joke of the Day.
We can always use something funny to cheer ourselves up, or to forget about the hardships of daily life.
After all laughter is one of the best tools we have for dealing with stress... and science even backs that up.
Here are 6 reasons to proof the benefits of laughter to your body and mind:
Laughter is a potent endorphin releaser.
Scientific studies have shown that laughing with others releases endorphins in the brain—our homegrown feel-good chemicals—via opioid receptors. The more opioid receptors a given person has in their brain, the more powerful the effect. Highly addictive opioid drugs, like heroin, also bind to those receptors, suggesting that laughter induces euphoria not unlike a narcotic (minus the obvious drawbacks).
Laughter contagiously forms social bonds.
The endorphin effect described above also explains why social laughter is so contagious. Spreading endorphin release through groups promotes a sense of togetherness and safety. Each brain in a social unit is a transmitter of those feelings, which triggers the feel-goods in other brains via laughter. It’s like a game of endorphin dominoes. That’s why when someone starts laughing, others will laugh even if they’re not sure what everyone is laughing about.
Laughter fosters brain connectivity.
Not all laughter is the same. For example, joyous laughter versus taunting laughter versus tickling laughter, each of which activates connections between different brain regions. What this all amounts to is that laughter fosters rigorous brain-region connectivity that kicks in when we hear a laugh, as our brains work to decipher what sort of communication is coming through.
Laughter is central to relationships.
A study showed that women laughed about 126% more than their male counterparts, while men seem to instigate laughter the most—and there’s an interesting application of those results to how relationships form and are maintained. Women typically rate a sense of humor as a top-three trait for a potential mate. Men tend to rate women who laugh a lot (i.e. laugh at their jokes) higher than those who don't. It's no surprise, then, that couples who laugh together report having higher-quality relationships. Laughter is a nonnegotiable for all involved.
Laughter has an effect similar to antidepressants.
Laughing activates the release of the neurotransmitter serotonin, the same brain chemical affected by the most common types of antidepressants, SSRIs. It’s not clear from the research how long this effect sticks around, but the burst of brain activity laughing triggers is undoubtedly potent, at least for short periods of time.
Laughter protects your heart.
Research has shown that laughter has an anti-inflammatory effect that protects blood vessels and heart muscles from the damaging effects of cardiovascular disease. How this happens isn't entirely understood, but it seems related to lessening the body’s stress response, which is directly linked to increased inflammation. Regular, hearty laughter should probably be part of every heart disease prevention program.
So without further ado, let us start by laying down some ground rules:
1. In line with the new Gateworld Forum Vision 2020 rules, we should refrain from posting politically inspired or religion inspired cartoons.
2. Respect one another
3. We all have different tastes of humor, so what may be funny for you might not be for someone else so always try to post in good taste. If you see something that you might construe as offensive, report that post to Bagpuss (or generally the moderators, whomever they may be these days).
4. This is not a thread meant to make fun of others, so refrain from mocking people in whatever form.
5. Remember this place is rated PG-13 so adjust your funny posts accordingly.
6. Images, videos, gifs, meme's, text, ... inspirational quotes (preferably of the funny kind) ...all are welcome. Even suggestions for books that make you laugh from start to finish.
We can always use something funny to cheer ourselves up, or to forget about the hardships of daily life.
After all laughter is one of the best tools we have for dealing with stress... and science even backs that up.
Here are 6 reasons to proof the benefits of laughter to your body and mind:
Laughter is a potent endorphin releaser.
Scientific studies have shown that laughing with others releases endorphins in the brain—our homegrown feel-good chemicals—via opioid receptors. The more opioid receptors a given person has in their brain, the more powerful the effect. Highly addictive opioid drugs, like heroin, also bind to those receptors, suggesting that laughter induces euphoria not unlike a narcotic (minus the obvious drawbacks).
Laughter contagiously forms social bonds.
The endorphin effect described above also explains why social laughter is so contagious. Spreading endorphin release through groups promotes a sense of togetherness and safety. Each brain in a social unit is a transmitter of those feelings, which triggers the feel-goods in other brains via laughter. It’s like a game of endorphin dominoes. That’s why when someone starts laughing, others will laugh even if they’re not sure what everyone is laughing about.
Laughter fosters brain connectivity.
Not all laughter is the same. For example, joyous laughter versus taunting laughter versus tickling laughter, each of which activates connections between different brain regions. What this all amounts to is that laughter fosters rigorous brain-region connectivity that kicks in when we hear a laugh, as our brains work to decipher what sort of communication is coming through.
Laughter is central to relationships.
A study showed that women laughed about 126% more than their male counterparts, while men seem to instigate laughter the most—and there’s an interesting application of those results to how relationships form and are maintained. Women typically rate a sense of humor as a top-three trait for a potential mate. Men tend to rate women who laugh a lot (i.e. laugh at their jokes) higher than those who don't. It's no surprise, then, that couples who laugh together report having higher-quality relationships. Laughter is a nonnegotiable for all involved.
Laughter has an effect similar to antidepressants.
Laughing activates the release of the neurotransmitter serotonin, the same brain chemical affected by the most common types of antidepressants, SSRIs. It’s not clear from the research how long this effect sticks around, but the burst of brain activity laughing triggers is undoubtedly potent, at least for short periods of time.
Laughter protects your heart.
Research has shown that laughter has an anti-inflammatory effect that protects blood vessels and heart muscles from the damaging effects of cardiovascular disease. How this happens isn't entirely understood, but it seems related to lessening the body’s stress response, which is directly linked to increased inflammation. Regular, hearty laughter should probably be part of every heart disease prevention program.
So without further ado, let us start by laying down some ground rules:
1. In line with the new Gateworld Forum Vision 2020 rules, we should refrain from posting politically inspired or religion inspired cartoons.
2. Respect one another
3. We all have different tastes of humor, so what may be funny for you might not be for someone else so always try to post in good taste. If you see something that you might construe as offensive, report that post to Bagpuss (or generally the moderators, whomever they may be these days).
4. This is not a thread meant to make fun of others, so refrain from mocking people in whatever form.
5. Remember this place is rated PG-13 so adjust your funny posts accordingly.
6. Images, videos, gifs, meme's, text, ... inspirational quotes (preferably of the funny kind) ...all are welcome. Even suggestions for books that make you laugh from start to finish.
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