The Chemistry of Laughter

• The two main chemicals, compounds, or components that are used when we laugh is Endorphins and Dopamine.
• Endorphins (C158H251N39O46S) are the natural happy drug that is released in the body. They are a group of peptide hormones. Endorphins also increase pain tolerance and they affect your emotions.
• Dopamine(C8H11NO2) is produced in the brain when we laugh. It is a neurotransmitter and has a role in the Central Nervous System.

Chemistry's Role

There are several ways that chemistry is involved when laughing.When we laugh, Endorphins are released from the pituitary gland into the blood and then into the brain and into the spine.When laughing, the dopamine chemical is released in the brain and then are sent as a signal to other nerves in the body.

Background Research

Laughing has been around ever since the first human was born and is very contagious .There are several theories that explain laughter.Sigmund Freud created The Relief Theory and is summarized by it being a tension releaser. A philosopher, John Morreal has a theory that it is a shared expression to relieve the passing of feeling in danger. However, of course, laughter IS the best medicine.

Resources

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/14/science/14laughter.html?_r=0

increases pain resistance

bonds groups of people together

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Are_Endorphins_released_when_you_laugh#slide=2&article=What_chemical_is_released_to_you_brain_when_you_laugh

Dopamine is released in your brain

Adrenalin is also released

http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/exchange/node/2054

when laughing, the body produces more gamma interfection T-cells and disease fighting cells

boosts the immune system

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laughter

involuntary reactions in humans

contagious

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nitrous_oxide

Also known as laughing gas

N2O

http://science.howstuffworks.com/life/endorphins.htm

neurotransmitters

natural narcotic

http://www.chemistryexplained.com/Di-Fa/Endorphins.html

endorphins

http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/laugh.html

What happens when we laugh

http://www.ehow.com/how_2063616_release-endorphins.html

Releasing endorphins

http://www.wisegeek.org/what-is-dopamine.htm

Dopamine

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endorphins

What happens in the brain with endorphins

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dopamine

What happens in the brain with dopamine

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laughter

Laughter

About the Author