That Contagious Emotion
By celticeagle
@celticeagle (159058)
Boise, Idaho
June 14, 2017 4:25pm CST
Laughter is wonderful isn't it? We can use so much of our body when we laugh. It is triggered by all manner of social discomforts. Embarrassment or uncomfortable moments.
Typically in the normal face there are 43 muscles. Muscles in the face, jaw and throat are used in laughter. In a good belly laugh the blood pressure rises, heart beat accelerates and the vocal cords may vibrate uncontrollably. It takes about 10 muscles to laugh and about six to frown. Takes about twelve to smile.
On the site center-for-nonverbal-studies.org it says: "Consider the bizarre events of the 1962 outbreak of contagious laughter in Tanganyika. What began as an isolated fit of laughter (and sometimes crying) in a group of 12- to 18-year-old schoolgirls rapidly rose to epidemic proportions. Contagious laughter propagated from one individual to the next, eventually infecting adjacent communities. The epidemic was so severe that it required the closing of schools. It lasted for six months" (Provine 1996).
Laughter is good for us. It releases tension, aids in circulation, lowers anxiety and even boosts the immune system.
9 people like this
9 responses
@much2say (53958)
• Los Angeles, California
14 Jun 17
Oh gosh, I laugh a lot . . . some may say my little laughs can be annoying 
. I can understand contagious laughter to a point - but wow - epidemic proportions is pretty extreme (I wonder what started the laughter - that must have been a seriously good joke 
).
. I can understand contagious laughter to a point - but wow - epidemic proportions is pretty extreme (I wonder what started the laughter - that must have been a seriously good joke ).1 person likes this
@celticeagle (159058)
• Boise, Idaho
15 Jun 17
I love to laugh. I watch TBBT just so I am able to some days. The epidemic laughter was rather strange wasn't it?
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (159058)
• Boise, Idaho
15 Jun 17
@much2say ......I wonder what was going on there. Sort of reminds me of the Salem Witch Trials.
@much2say (53958)
• Los Angeles, California
15 Jun 17
@celticeagle I just can't imagine what was THAT funny that the laughter would not stop and actually spread. Eventually laughter tapers off - normally anyway.
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
15 Jun 17
It's a good thing to be contagious for sure
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (159058)
• Boise, Idaho
15 Jun 17
I laugh when I hear certain laughs too.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (159058)
• Boise, Idaho
19 Jun 17
I use humor a lot for that. And, yes it sure is a coping mechanism.
1 person likes this
@lovinangelsinstead21 (36850)
• Pamplona, Spain
14 Jun 17
Laughing is good for the heart as well and we all need to laugh if only a little bit.
1 person likes this
