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Evolutionary Roots of Laughter Shared Between Humans and Great Apes, Study Finds
Researchers found all six great ape species share evenly spaced laughter rhythms that may predate human speech by 15 million years.
- Researchers at the University of Warwick published findings Thursday in Communications Biology showing that Humans and Great Apes share consistent laughter rhythms when tickled, suggesting the trait dates back 15 million years.
- Chiara Gregorio and her colleagues analyzed 140 laughter sequences from bonobos, chimpanzees, gorillas, orangutans, and Humans, discovering that consistent rhythmic intervals between laughs indicate a shared evolutionary link.
- While basic rhythmic intervals remain constant across species, Human laughter has evolved to be faster and more complex, which scientists consider a fundamental building block for speech development.
- Simon Townsend, who studies primate communication at the University of Zurich in Switzerland, said the findings "fall in line with an emerging body of data" suggesting primates have greater vocal system control than previously thought.
- Brittany Florkiewicz, an animal communication researcher at Lyon College, suggested future studies should include recordings from other playful animals like dogs and horses to distinguish unique human traits from shared evolutionary behaviors.
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Scientists Tickled Gorillas And Found An Old Clue To How Humans Learned Speech
Topline The vocal control underpinning human speech was not a sudden evolutionary leap, but a 15-million-year work in progress, according to researchers at the University of Warwick who tickled gorillas and recorded chimpanzee play sessions to make the discovery. Key Facts A University of Warwick study published Thursday found that humans and all four other living great ape species—chimpanzees, bonobos, gorillas and orangutans—produce laughter …
Giggling Apes May Help Us Better Understand the Emergence of Speech, as We Laugh in a Surprisingly Similar Way
Discover how tickling apes and recording their bursts of laughter revealed a similar pattern to how humans laugh, while hinting at the origins of speech.
·Jupiter, United States
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The IndependentReposted by 
Western Morning News
Western Morning NewsHumans and apes laugh in similar ways, study finds
The findings reveal that the chuckles of both humans and great apes exhibit comparable rhythms
·London, United Kingdom
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources58
Leaning Left13Leaning Right12Center24Last UpdatedBias Distribution49% Center
Bias Distribution
- 49% of the sources are Center
49% Center
L 27%
C 49%
R 24%
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