Genuine, Open-Mouthed Laughter Appreciated Most

Laughter is a critical part of human communication and people learn to appreciate some forms more than others.

By Emily Sohn

When you laugh, the whole world laughs with you -- as long as your sentiment is genuine, your vocal chords are engaged, and your mouth is open.

A new study found that people experienced the most positive emotional reactions when they heard spontaneous, open-mouthed laughter, especially if the laughter came from a woman. Breathy laughter made with a closed mouth didn't elicit the same good feelings.

The finding adds to a growing understanding of how laughing functions as a deeply rooted form of unconscious communication between people. By studying the nuances of laughter sounds, researchers may also eventually figure out how to design computers that can produce the right kinds of laughter in the right kinds of situations.

"I think of laughter sounds as a kind of fundamental mechanism for building up and maintaining positive social relationships," said Michael Owren, an experimental psychologist at Georgia State University in Atlanta. "Laughter is almost a dominant feature in social interactions. It clearly has some role in promoting positive emotional bonds. But it's not clear how that's working."

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