Written By Meerab Fatima
There have been instances in everyone’s lives where nothing seems to be going right. The responsibilities are piling up, deadlines running after you bloodthirsty for revenge, and your friends seem to be indulged in the race of life, far away from reach to ask for help.
What do you do then?
You scroll through Instagram and watch memes.
Humor is often viewed as a universal language, frequently transcending all barriers of language, culture, and consciousness. It is interesting how our brains are able to use text, images, and auditory material to incite joy and excitement, but how exactly does it do so? How is this universal language decoded in the realm of our subconscious synapses?
Humor and the Brain
At the core of the neuroscience of humor lies the intricate interplay of several brain regions and neurotransmitter systems. One of the main areas involved in processing humor is the prefrontal cortex, particularly the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (DMPFC) and the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (VMPFC). These regions are involved in higher-order cognitive functions such as executive control, social cognition, and emotional regulation, which are essential for understanding and appreciating your teacher’s jokes while they are trying to engage the class.
Furthermore, research suggests that humor processing engages widespread neural networks beyond the prefrontal cortex. The temporal lobes play a crucial role in recognizing and comprehending jokes and puns’ semantic and contextual aspects. Meanwhile, the limbic system, including the amygdala and the ventral striatum, contributes to the emotional response to humor, such as the experience of amusement and laughter.
Neurotransmitters such as dopamine and endorphins also play a significant role in the neurobiology of comedy. Dopamine, often referred to as the “pleasure neurotransmitter,” is released in response to rewarding stimuli. Studies have shown that humor activates the mesolimbic dopaminergic pathway, which is implicated in reward processing and motivation. Similarly, endorphins, the body’s natural opioids, are released during laughter, leading to feelings of euphoria and pain relief.
Humor and creativity
Interestingly, individual differences in humor perception and appreciation can be attributed to variations in brain structure and function. That means not everyone views humor or comedy with the same lens. For example, studies using neuroimaging techniques have identified differences in the brain structures of individuals with a high sense of humor compared to those with a lower sense of humor. These differences often involve regions associated with cognitive flexibility, such as the frontal lobes, as well as areas involved in social cognition and empathy.
Such a study was conducted on this topic, wherein professional and amateur comedians and a control group of non-comedians were enrolled.
Each participant viewed a cartoon from the New Yorker without any text and was asked to come up with their accompanying captions. They wrote two versions of the text – one mundane and one funny.
After completing this task, their brains were scanned using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Afterward, a panel assessed each caption for its humor level.
Once the data from the fMRI scans had been analyzed, two sections of the brain were shown to be particularly busy during the creation of humorous comments:
Medial prefrontal cortex – an area at the front of the brain thought to be involved in learning associations between locations and events, and the appropriate emotional responses. It helps us respond correctly to social interactions.
Temporal association regions – part of the temporal lobe thought to be involved in the recognition and identification of complex stimuli
Interestingly, the activation in these particular regions was different depending on the level of comedic expertise. As the researcher explains: “What we found is that the more experienced someone is at doing comedy, the more activation we saw in the temporal lobe.”
Conversely, non-comedians and amateur comedians saw less activity in the temporal lobe and more activity in the prefrontal cortex, which deals with executive functions such as complex planning and decision-making.
Humor and Therapy
The study of humor in neuroscience extends beyond understanding its neural basis to exploring its therapeutic potential. Humor and laughter have been found to have numerous health benefits, including stress reduction, immune system enhancement, and pain management. As a result, humor-based interventions, such as laughter therapy and humor therapy, are increasingly being used in clinical settings to improve well-being and quality of life.
In conclusion, the neuroscience of humor offers valuable insights into the mechanisms underlying one of the most fundamental aspects of human experience. By integrating cognitive, emotional, and neurochemical processes, the brain navigates the complex terrain of humor, allowing us to find joy and amusement in the world around us. By unraveling the brain’s funny bone, neuroscientists deepen our understanding of human nature and pave the way for innovative approaches to health and well-being through laughter.
Citations:
The neuroscience of humor investigated. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/316115
Understanding the Lobes of Brain | Brain Health and Puzzles. https://www.brainhealthandpuzzles.com/understanding-lobes-of-brain/?amp
Smith, R. S., & Smith, R. S. (2015). Disambiguating the Roles of Select Medial Prefrontal Subregions in Conscious and Unconscious Emotional Processing.
Humor- it’s all in your head. https://allkindsofminds.org/humor-its-all-in-your-head/
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