The reasons why we laugh or our specific sense of humor aren’t the only things that are fascinating or a bit strange about laughter—a nonverbal emotional expression that almost every person is capable of.
The sound we make while giggling is also quite an interesting phenomenon. Something we might not have realized is that there are many types of laughter, as we all laugh differently, from the snicker to the heehaw.
The sound itself is made with the help of our limbic system (structures in our brain), larynx, lungs, and respiratory muscles. They work together to produce the noise we know as laughter.
It’s quite a primitive way of making a sound since there’s no real movement of the tongue, jaw, or lips. All the action is happening in the ribcage—each wheeze, squeeze, gasp, or snort is simply muscles in the chest squeezing high-pressure air from our ribcage.
Not only is there a variation in laughs in different people, but one person can also have quite a few types of chuckles. Our happy giggles differ from our nervous ones and the sound becomes different when we are alone vs. when we’re with other people.
"There are many varieties of laughter," confirms Kara Sherman, laughter yoga ambassador and founder of Laughter Yoga Together. "Obviously, it can be a physiological response that expresses joy. But it can also result from feeling embarrassed or confused. And of course, people often laugh at the expense of others. Laughter is such a nuanced reaction with so many meanings. And we all laugh for different reasons," she explained.
"I think we can often be guilty of holding back our laughter because we've been conditioned to laugh for a certain amount of time that feels appropriate or in response to a specific situation," says Cat Googe, laughter yogi and empowerment coach.
"There can be a huge difference, for example, between laughing at work compared to laughing with old friends. Of course, there are varying factors that contribute but it's often about people feeling safe to be themselves and fully let go. When people practice laughter yoga for the first time, I've seen some self-censor and limit how long they laugh by placing their hands over their mouths, almost apologetically," she noted.
"But once they've moved past these self-imposed limitations and are in flow with the session, the inhibitions fade, the self-judgment is left behind, and natural, unfiltered laughter starts to flow."
Genuine laughter usually erupts unexpectedly, as it tends not to be affected by our surroundings. Giggles coming from the heart often contain loud snorts and wide mouths—something that many of us find embarrassing.
"Here's what genuine laughter looks like to the outsider—a relaxed face with crinkling around the eyes, a wide mouth with upturned sides, and sounds of laughter as hearty positive emotion flowing out! Eye contact is a significant component of genuine laughter, and the sparkling look in the eyes is very common (did you know that eyes naturally moisten when we laugh?)," tells Sara Kay, laughter and happiness coach and founder of Serious Laughter.
"That’s what makes Laughter Yoga such an incredible exercise," adds Sherman. "With Laughter Yoga, we laugh intentionally and unconditionally. This activates the benefits and stress-relieving power of laughter without the emotional weight that can sometimes come with it. After a Laughter Yoga session, you feel uplifted, energized, and filled with joy."
