Laughter, a phenomenon apparently exclusive to humans, is actually a behavior much older and shared with different animal species. This is confirmed by a study conducted by the anthropologist Sasha Winkler and the professor Greg Bryant from the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), published in the journal Bioacoustics.
By analyzing the playful behavior of numerous species, the two researchers discovered that at least 65 species they emit sounds similar to laughter during the game phases.
Laughter between species: from primates to birds, a signal of play and social cooperation
The study focused on the analysis of sounds emitted during the game, defined as “playful vocalizations”, tracing common characteristics such as the intensity, pitch and duration of sound emissions. Among the animals observed are primates, domestic dogs, cows, foxes, seals, mongooses and even some bird speciessuch as Australian parrots and magpies.
Second Greg Bryantthis phenomenon highlights deep evolutionary links:
Laughter, once considered exclusively human, is actually closely related to behaviors shared with species separated from us by millions of years.
Indeed, many species exhibit physical cues associated with play. In the primatesfor example, we observe the so-called “playface”, a specific facial expression, while in dogs the “play bow” (playful bow). Playful vocalizations accompany these signals, serving to emphasize the non-aggressive purpose of physical interactions which, in some cases, may appear to be fights.
Why do we laugh?
Sasha Winkler explained the crucial role of laughter in human and animal behavior:
When we laugh, we communicate to others that we are playing, inviting them to join. Many scholars hypothesize that this vocalization is a human version of an evolutionarily ancient signal.
For animals, these vocalizations serve an important social function, helping to regulate the interaction and prevent conflicts. Laughing, or making playful sounds, means sending a clear message: “We’re just kidding”.
Despite these findings, detect play sounds in animals still represents a challenge, especially for species that emit more subtle and less audible vocalizations in natural environments. Winkler and Bryant suggest that further research may offer new perspectives on the evolution of our social and communication skills.
The study not only broadens our understanding of the laughter as a social behaviorbut sheds light on how play and cooperation have shaped the interaction between individuals, not only in humans but in many species of the animal kingdom.
