Why Adam Sandler is Funny in a Theater
New research could explain why some comedians are funnier when you’re surrounded by laughing people instead of sitting by yourself.
In a new study, researchers found that the brain appears to prime itself for laughter when it hears someone laughing: This response occurs in the area of the brain that is activated when we smile, as though preparing our facial muscles to laugh.
But why? “We usually encounter positive emotions, such as laughter or cheering, in group situations, whether watching a comedy programme with family or a football game with friends,” says [a researcher]. “This response in the brain, automatically priming us to smile or laugh, provides a way of mirroring the behaviour of others, something which helps us interact socially.
It could play an important role in building strong bonds between individuals in a group.”