Why Adam Sandler is Funny in a Theater

New research could explain why some comedians are funnier when you're surrounded by laughing people instead of sitting by yourself.

In a new study, researchers found that the brain appears to prime itself for laughter when it hears someone laughing:

This response occurs in the area of the brain that is activated when we smile, as though preparing our facial muscles to laugh.

But why?

"We usually encounter positive emotions, such as laughter or cheering,
in group situations, whether watching a comedy programme with family ora football game with friends," says [a researcher]. "This response in thebrain, automatically priming us to smile or laugh, provides a way ofmirroring the behaviour of others, something which helps us interactsocially. It could play an important role in building strong bondsbetween individuals in a group."

Elsewhere in this week's Bodyhack:

WHO (are those dead people in "Casino Royale")

WHAT (is a researcher doing with psychotic Americans)

WHERE (you can lose sensation if you ride a bike and happen to be female)

WHEN (will mice live longer)

WHY (Indians don't fit into condoms)

HOW (your beer belly might fuel the world.)