Why do we laugh? The science behind laughing, according to experts

No vocalisation is more universal (or unifying) than laughter. There are no language or cultural barriers - everyone everywhere understands the concept - and there's no learning curve. "Babies don't need to have seen or heard laughter to know how to do it," says Sophie Scott, PhD, a professor of cognitive neuroscience at University College London and one of the world's leading experts on laughter. But why do we laugh? According to scientific studies, it's not just corny jokes, funny photos or funny movies that elicit chuckles. In fact, humour isn't even the main reason we laugh. Curious about the cause of our giggles and guffaws, we asked Scott to explain the science behind laughter, including the health benefits. This is guaranteed to make you want to laugh more every day.