Ever wonder if there was ever a time without laughter? New discoveries suggest that laughter is not a trait exclusively of humans, but originally of a different primate species.

    Bonobos, or "Pygmy Chimpanzees", are primates, like us. They are also Great Apes, like us. Bonobos can also laugh, just like we do every day. Many of us think that humans are the only animals cabaple of laughing, and that we also invented it, but this is utterly wrong. Most likely, a primate similar to the Bonobo was the first to laugh. Humans laugh mainly when we exhale, but Bonobos, on the other hand, laugh when they both inhale and exhale, creating a non-stop laugh. Other studies have found that these Pygmy Chimpanzees have been found to laugh at rudimentary, childish human jokes. It has been recorded that a Chimpanzee once laughed hysterically when he gave a rock to his caretaker to eat.

    Another instance is when one cracked up after peeing on his caretaker. These stimuli of laughter are very similar to human laughter, suggesting that our laughter is very similar to laughter of other species. Chimpanzees also have a similar expression when they laugh: an open-mouthed, relaxed smile. Adult Chimpanzees have also been found to enjoy laughing well into their adulthood. Another supporting point that laughter was not invented by humans is that laughter has the same purpose in all cultures, no matter how isolated they are. Laughter is also instinctive, as it is found in blind and deaf infants. So next time you laugh, some other Chimpanzee somewhere out there is laughing more hysterically than you.

    曾經想知道是否有沒有笑聲的時候?新的發現表明笑聲并不是人類的專利,而最初是靈長類的一個特征。

    巴諾布猿(也稱倭黑猩猩)像我們人類一樣屬于靈長類。它們也像我們人類一樣也屬于類人猿。巴諾布猿也能笑,就像我們每天一樣。許多人認為人類是唯一能笑的動物,認為笑是人類的發明,但事實并非如此。類似于巴諾布猿的某種靈長類可能是最先發出笑聲的動物。人類的笑聲通常是在呼氣時,而巴諾布猿則是在吸氣和呼氣時發出笑聲的,這樣就形成了連續不斷的笑聲。有研究發現倭黑猩猩也會對人類一些基本的、幼稚的笑話發笑。有資料記錄一只黑猩猩曾經在給它的照顧者一塊石頭吃時歇斯底里地大笑。

    另一個例子是一只黑猩猩在它的照顧者身上撒尿后捧腹大笑。這些發笑的刺激物與人類的發笑非常相似,表明我們的笑聲與其他物種的的笑聲很相似。黑猩猩在笑時也有類似的表情:張大嘴、放松笑。研究發現黑猩猩在步入成年時后也享受大笑。笑聲在所有文化(不管文化是怎樣的與世隔絕)中具有相同的用途也證明笑聲并不是人類的發明。從失明和失聰的嬰兒也會發笑可以看出笑是一種本能。所以下次你笑時,可能有黑猩猩在別處比你笑得更厲害呢!