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Neuroendocrine and stress hormone changes during mirthful laughter
The American Journal of the Medical Sciences
|December 1, 1989
Summary
Mirthful laughter significantly reduced stress hormones like cortisol and epinephrine. This humor experience also altered growth hormone levels, suggesting a reversal of the body's stress response.
Area of Science:
- Neuroendocrinology
- Psychoneuroimmunology
Background:
- Positive emotional activities may influence neuroendocrine hormones related to stress.
- Understanding the biochemical impact of laughter on the stress response is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the neuroendocrine and hormonal changes during a mirthful laughter experience.
- To assess the effect of humor on stress-related biomarkers.
Main Methods:
- 10 healthy males participated, with 5 viewing a humor video and 5 serving as controls.
- Serial blood samples were analyzed for cortisol, epinephrine, growth hormone, and other hormones.
- Repeated measures analysis of variance was used to compare group differences over time.
Main Results:
- Cortisol, 3,4-dihydrophenylacetic acid (dopac), and epinephrine levels decreased significantly in the laughter group.
- Growth hormone initially increased then decreased in the laughter group, unlike controls.
- Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), beta-endorphin, prolactin, and norepinephrine did not show significant increases.
Conclusions:
- Mirthful laughter reduces serum levels of cortisol, dopac, epinephrine, and growth hormone.
- These biochemical shifts indicate a potential reversal of the classical neuroendocrine stress response.
- Humor-based interventions may offer a novel approach to managing stress.
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