The way we laugh when tickled is ‘uniquely different’ from other laughter

The best of Voices delivered to your inbox every week - from controversial columns to expert analysis Sign up for our free weekly Voices newsletter for expert opinion and columns Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The way people laugh when tickled is “uniquely different” from other laughter such as when hearing a joke, according to a new study. But laughter comes in different types, such as from play or when watching something funny, and examining the distinctions may prove crucial to understanding their unique functions, scientists say. The new study, published on Wednesday in the journal Biology Letters, assessed sound components from around 900 laughter clips, which included real-life situations related to tickling, joking, comedic performances, playful pranks, and seeing someone’s misfortune. Inflatable tickles man's armpit during group photo shoot Then, in a second experiment, they made over 200 participants listen to 30 of the 900 clips and identify laughter induced by tickling.