Comments on: Scientists tickle apes to reveal evolutionary origins of human laughter

By: Ed Yong

Ed Yong — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 18:38:30 +0000

Yep, the siamang was the outgroup but wasn’t indicated on the tree.

By: spyra

spyra — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 17:28:58 +0000

I didn’t look at the paper or anything, but the tree depicted on this page does not seem to be rooted correctly. Shouldn’t there be an outgroup, a species that does NOT exhibit the characteristic studied? Or maybe the saimang was it and wasnt shown? Just wondering.

By: TMarton

TMarton — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 00:55:36 +0000

This is not “the first time that anyone has applied the same technique to an emotional expression.” Two more basic emotions, joy and disgust, and their expression, smiles and grimaces, have also been phylogenically modeled (Kent Berridge, Neuroscience and Behavioral Reviews, 2000 and 2001). These models have led to hypotheses about the ethological roles for both of these facial expressions. Notably, grimaces or ‘gapes’ are can be elicited by bitter or aversive tastes in many organisms, while smiles are elicited by sweet or appetitive tastes. These observations suggest that smiles and joy might have arisen as a means to increase consumption of a safe and valuable food substance, while might help to expel toxic or pathogenic substances.

By: Ed Yong

Ed Yong — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 21:00:23 +0000

Lol @ Mike. “I’m going to tickle baby apes. What do you mean “Why?” What’s wrong with you? I’m. Going. To. Tickle. Baby. Apes. For SCIENCE”

By: Daniel J. Andrews

Daniel J. Andrews — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 01:45:50 +0000

I’d love to see the job ad for the ape tickler position. Wanted:….

By: Mike

Mike — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 23:19:33 +0000

I would LOVE to read the grant proposal written for this research. I think it would be something like: ‘This research seeks to tickle primates…to see what happens…’

By: Ian

Ian — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 15:56:20 +0000

Have you tickled your inner ape today?!

By: Nollidge

Nollidge — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 22:52:21 +0000

“Humans also only ever laugh while breathing out…”
It’s quite so absolute – anecdotally, I do know one guy who vocalizes on the inhalation of his laugh.

By: Arj

Arj — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 21:55:20 +0000

your readers may or may not already be familiar with research indicating that rats also "giggle" when tickled: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-admRGFVNM

By: Ibod Catooga

Ibod Catooga — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 21:15:13 +0000

You should see what happens when you stick your finger in an ape’s butt.