Laughter is nothing to laugh about scientists say

Scientists seek to understand more about laughter and its potential health benefits.
Washington (WiredPRNews.com) – Researchers are seeking to understand more about laughter and its potential impact on human health. As reported by the Associated Press (AP), researchers view laughter as a serious area of study, and some suggest that may be a social response as opposed to a reaction to humor.
Baltimore neuroscientist Robert Provine is quoted in the report as stating of laughter, “Laughter above all else is a social thing… The requirement for laughter is another person…All language groups laugh `ha-ha-ha’ basically the same way. Whether you speak Mandarin, French or English, everyone will understand laughter. … There’s a pattern generator in our brain that produces this sound.”
Provine is further stated to suggest that only up to 15 percent of laughter comes from hearing something funny.