Neuroscience Proves Your Business Needs Laughter!
Laughter! It’s true that it’s good for us when we laugh, but research in neuroscience suggests that there’s something more than it.
It is surely “special” because it is the only human non-verbal sound that can be heard across every culture on earth. This alone indicates that it has importance.
The Science of Laughter
Despite being mentioned by the Bible and by Plato and having been a part of the human race for years, the studies on the psychology of laughter were initiated in the past couple of decades, utilizing the study of brain regions that are associated with laughter as well as modern imaging of brain regions.
As per The Oxford Journal of Neurology, laughter is a result of the “involuntary”, “emotionally-driven” system, as well as a different “voluntary” system originating in another part of the brain.
Laughology
In the film “Laughology” made by Canadian filmmaker as well as “audiologist” Albert Nerenberg, He interviews neuroscientists in the UK who demonstrate that laughter is among the most infectious of human characteristics.
It is believed that our bodies and brains are programmed to respond positively as well to laughter. We only need to open the part of our brain that manages the process, as described above.
How can people who are serious smile? You can connect to those “voluntary” laughter parts of our brain, which are known as the premotor/frontal opercular regions, which connect the motor cortex as well as the pyramidal tract that connects to our ventral brainstem.
There are “laughter groups” that attract “audiologists” who practice laughter regularly as a way of coping, and it has been discovered that members can “catch” each other’s laughter.
Physical Act of Laughing Physical Act of laughing
Laughter increases oxygen consumption, breathing, and heart rate. This, consequently, may stimulate the circulation system (great for heart health) and can even improve your immune system.
Neurochemicals such as serotonin are released. They make us feel happy and bring positive emotions.
It’s both physical and mental sensation, and the positive results of the “wellbeing feeling” on the body are being employed as a part of standard treatments and therapies for certain diseases.
For example, instance, it is said that the American Cancer Society says that humor therapy (laughter therapy) is a “complementary tool to promote health, enhance immune system performance, and cope with illness.”
To prove this, Cancer Treatment Centers of America employ a “laughter leader” to create games to stimulate laughter, such as pretending to put ice on one another’s backs. Patients initially make up to laugh, but eventually, the positive contagious effects kick in, and patients are able to start laughing out loud.
The Business of Laughter
Let’s apply this to the life of the business. Do you want to create an atmosphere of laughter and fun within your company – can you see ways to bring better outcomes?
The business world has been sucked into the direction of the “numbers game” and away from the people who we want to help bring about the desired outcomes.
Engaging with team members on a personal level means providing them what they require as human beings. They do not cease to be individuals once they enter the door at 9 am to begin work. If we can change the atmosphere more conducive to the positive characteristics that transcend any boundaries of culture, gender, race, or religion, that’s a step towards the correct direction.
