Effects of laughter and relaxation on discomfort thresholds.
Two experiments were conducted to test the proposal that laughter is a pain antagonist. In Experiment I, thresholds for pressure-induced discomfort of 20 male and 20 female subjects were measured after each subject listened to a 20-min-long laughter-inducing, relaxation-inducing, or dull-narrative audio tape or no tape. Discomfort thresholds were higher for subjects in the laughter- and the relaxation-inducing conditions. In Experiment II, 40 female subjects were matched for pressure-induced discomfort thresholds. Their discomfort thresholds were measured after they listened to a laughter-inducing, interesting narrative, or uninteresting narrative audio tape, completed a multiplication task, or experienced no intervention. Discomfort thresholds increased for subjects in the laughter-inducing condition. Laughter, and not simply distraction, reduces discomfort sensitivity, suggesting that laughter has potential as an intervention strategy for the reduction of clinical discomfort.
Cogan
R
R
Cogan
D
D
Waltz
W
W
McCue
M
M
D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007845:Laughter; D008297:Male; D010147:Pain Measurement; D012064:Relaxation Therapy; D012684:Sensory Thresholds