For scientists say that whether we laugh or not depends more on how much we like a person than if they really are funny.

 

Sophie Scott, a professor of neuroscience at University College London, said: 'You hear women say, I really fancy him, he really makes me laugh.

 

'What she means is, he's really attractive and I laugh because I fancy him. It's to do with how much they like him.'

 

She told the British Science Festival in Bradford that laughter seems to have its roots deep in evolution, and remains¹ 'extremely socially important'.

 

'When you laugh with people you show you agree with them,' she said. 'You are showing you like them – if you didn't you would withhold² that laughter.'

 

Laughter can also diffuse³ tension in established relationships, with couples who laugh together, staying together.

 

The professor’s own research found that laughter, unlike the sweet sigh of contentment or the cheer of triumph, are cross-cultural, with people with remote parts of Africa recognising when a Westerner is amused and vice⁴ versa.

 

She said: 'It's looking like laughter might be an emotion that is part of our evolutionary⁵ history, it's part of our make-up.'

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