Laughing together: the role of laughter and interpersonal synchrony in bonding and cooperation

Project Information

LaughingTogether

Grant agreement ID: 101023989

DOI

10.3030/101023989

Project closed

EC signature date 17 March 2021

Start date 1 February 2022

End date 2 April 2024

Funded under

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Total cost

€ 174 167,04

EU contribution

€ 174 167,04

Coordinated by

UNIVERSITAT WIEN
Austria

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - LaughingTogether (Laughing together: the role of laughter and interpersonal synchrony in bonding and cooperation)

Reporting period: 2022-02-01 to 2024-01-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

This research project aims to understand why humans laugh and how laughter helps to bond with others, both in adults and in children. Laughter is a unique vocalization that often happens during play, when we're tickled, or in conversations. It's contagious, meaning just hearing someone laugh can make us laugh too. The project suggests that laughter creates a special connection between people by making them synchronize their behavior, their neural activity and their physiological activity. This synchronization, called interpersonal synchrony, makes communication and cooperation easier. This project's aim was to find out if laughter, through interpersonal synchrony, helps people cooperate and get along better, by studying both adults and preschool children. The project has two main parts: one focusing on adults and one on preschool children. In both cases, the project investigates whether laughing together leads to greater interpersonal synchronization and better cooperation. Overall, the project aims to uncover how laughter brings people together and how it affects our relationships from childhood to adulthood.
This project holds significance for several reasons: by delving into the role of laughter in human interactions, the project sheds light on fundamental aspects of social bonding and cooperation. Understanding how laughter fosters connection can provide insights into building healthier and more fulfilling relationships, which is essential for societal well-being. Moreover, investigating how laughter influences cooperation can have practical implications for various social contexts, such as workplaces, schools, and communities. Discovering how laughter enhances cooperation may offer strategies for promoting teamwork, empathy, and mutual support in diverse settings. Finally, studying laughter in preschool children provides valuable insights into early social development. Understanding how laughter influences peer interactions and friendship formation can inform educational practices and interventions aimed at fostering positive social skills and emotional development in children. Overall, this project has the potential to enrich our understanding of human behavior, improve social interactions, and contribute to the promotion of healthier, more connected communities.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

From the inception of our project to its culmination, we embarked on a journey to explore the function of laughter in both adults and children. Our aim was to understand how laughter fosters interpersonal synchrony—the harmonious alignment of behavior, physiology, and neural activity between individuals—and how it influences social bonding and cooperation. Using cutting-edge dual neuroscience or hyperscanning approaches, we simultaneously measured and analyzed the physiological and neural activity of interacting participants while inducing laughter. Our findings have shed light on the intricate relationship between laughter and social bonding. Despite encountering challenges, our preliminary results suggest promising avenues for understanding how laughter shapes social dynamics. In adults, we also observed gender differences in laughter patterns, highlighting the nuanced nature of social interactions.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

The project has made significant strides beyond the current state of the art in exploring the intricate relationship between laughter, interpersonal synchrony, and social bonding. By employing cutting-edge dual neuroscience approaches, including fNIRS and physiological measures, the project advances our understanding of how laughter fosters interpersonal synchrony at both behavioral and neural levels, particularly in adult and preschool populations.

Expected results by the project's conclusion include a comprehensive understanding of how laughter influences cooperation, rapport, and prosocial behavior, shedding light on the mechanisms underlying social bonding in diverse contexts. Furthermore, the project anticipates uncovering gender differences in laughter patterns and their implications for social interaction.

The potential impacts of this research are multifaceted. On a socio-economic level, insights gained from the project could inform interventions aimed at enhancing teamwork and communication in professional settings, leading to more productive and cohesive work environments. Moreover, understanding the developmental aspects of laughter and synchrony in preschool children may have implications for early childhood education and social development programs.

The wider societal implications of the project extend to improving interpersonal relationships and community cohesion. By elucidating the role of laughter in fostering social bonds, the project contributes to creating more inclusive and harmonious social environments. Furthermore, dissemination efforts through various media channels, including radio interviews and video documentaries, aim to raise public awareness and foster a deeper understanding of the importance of laughter in human interaction.

schema of the experimental procedure