Researchers from California combed through past studies of animal behaviour, looking for records of vocal play signals that might represent a version of laughter. The findings, they said, may help us better understand the form and function of human laughter, alongside its role the evolution of social behaviour. 'As such, laughter is our human version of an evolutionarily old vocal play signal.' The team have said that further studies looking at play vocalisations in the wild would be of benefit. 'Paying attention to other species in this way sheds light on the form and function of human laughter', the researchers wrote.

Source: Daily Mail May 10, 2021 13:10 UTC