Science wise- What is laughter? What in our body causes us to laugh?

Question

Don't be an idiot and answer "how we say something is funny."

I mean physically, what in our body is making us laugh, and why?

Answer 1

Physically, it involves an involuntary periodic spasm-relax sequence of the diaphram, and contraction of the vocal cords to produce the characteristic sound.

Why? You mean what selectively advantageous function does it serve that lead to its evolution? It's obviously a form of nonverbal communication in response to humor. The root of all humor is irony. Irony is when something out of the ordinary or otherwise unexpected happens. A pun, for example, is when a word or phrase is made to sound like something with an unexpected meaning. To animals, the unexpected is generally associated with danger. Anyone who owns a dog will be able to tell you that if there is a significant break in the dog's routine the response is caution and/or fear.

I would speculate, then, that laughing originated as a warning call to other members of the group to be alert to the fact that something unusual has occurred because danger may be afoot. Such warning calls between primates often sound very much like hoots of laugher. In modern society, however, interactions are very complex and unexpected things happen all the time, with no indication of danger. Nonetheless, it is still useful to communicate with others around you that something unexpected has happen. Laughter has just taken on a less serious meaning.

Answer 2

This definition appears in (I believe), Stedman's Medical Dictionary, and is recalled (after many years), as: Laughter; involuntary, spasmodic contractions of the diaphragm and glottis, involving the vocal folds, expressing mirth.
THAT'S funny!

Answer 3

Happy Holidays!