The Neuroscience of Laughter: How Humor Affects the Brain

Researchers at Paris Brain Institute and Bar-Ilan University in Tel Aviv studied the neural substrates of humor by analyzing intracerebral electrophysiological recordings of epileptic patients watching physical comedy clips from Charlie Chaplin. The study found that high-frequency neural activity, associated with tasks requiring substantial cognitive engagement, was a marker for humor appreciation. The study confirmed the prominent role of the temporal lobe in humor appreciation, suggesting the area’s anterior parts are linked to analyzing scenes and detecting incongruous content. The study only examined responses to slapstick humor, and researchers intend to explore other forms of humor in future studies to understand this unique human phenomenon better.