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Humor modulates the mesolimbic reward centers.
Dean Mobbs1, Michael D Greicius, Eiman Abdel-Azim
1Stanford Psychiatry Neuroimaging Laboratory, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
Neuron
|December 9, 2003
Summary
This study reveals the brain
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychology
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Humor is vital for psychological, social, and somatic well-being.
- Neuroimaging studies have identified cortical networks involved in humor processing.
- The subcortical correlates of humor's reward aspect remain largely unexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the subcortical neural substrates underlying the reward components of humor.
- To elucidate the brain's reward system's engagement during humor perception.
Main Methods:
- A high-field (3 Tesla) event-related functional MRI study was conducted.
- Participants underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging while experiencing humor stimuli.
- Blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) signal changes were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Humor processing modulates activity in several cortical regions.
- New evidence shows humor engages subcortical regions, including the nucleus accumbens.
- Increased humor intensity positively correlated with BOLD signal in these reward-related regions.
Conclusions:
- The nucleus accumbens is a key subcortical region involved in humor's reward system.
- These findings provide insight into the neural basis of the beneficial effects of humor.
- This research highlights the neurobiological underpinnings of humor appreciation and its salutary impact.