Laughter is a universal human behavior. Have you ever wondered why we laugh or what it really means when we do? Greg Bryant of UCLA studies the evolution of communication and vocal behavior, especially of spontaneous vocal expressions such as laughter. In this episode of Origin Stories he explores the origins and evolution of human laughter in a talk that was recorded live at our Being Human event series.

Links:

Being Human

Join Team Leakey! Run a full or half-marathon and help raise money for science.

Greg Bryant

http://gabryant.bol.ucla.edu

http://www.gregbryant.org/Laughter_EHB2014.pdf

http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2016/04/05/1524993113.abstract?sid=b503eb7d-e2ea-4c0b-9dcd-479c234f5465