Get a load of this: Humans and great apes share similar giggles
Summary
Scientists studied giggles from humans and great apes and found they share similar rhythms. By comparing tickling sounds from apes and young children, researchers believe these shared laughter patterns come from a common ancestor millions of years ago.Key Facts
- Researchers tickled 13 captive great apes including gorillas, orangutans, chimpanzees, and bonobos.
- They compared the ape giggles with recordings of four young children laughing while being tickled.
- Human and ape laughter have similar rhythms, showing regular timing between laughs.
- Laughter likely evolved from a common ancestor of humans and great apes about 15 million years ago.
- Human laughter is faster and more complex, varying by social context.
- Other animals, like rats, also make playful sounds but these differ from human laughter patterns.
- Studying laughter helps scientists learn about communication and how humans may have developed speech.
- The research was published in the journal Communications Biology.
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