Why Laughter Is a Human Superpower | Stress, Love, Loneliness & Your Brain | Prof Sophie Scott

<p>This week I&#39;m joined by Professor Sophie Scott, neuroscientist, stand-up comedian and Deputy Director of the Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience at University College London, and someone who has dedicated her career to one of the most underrated forces in human life, laughter.</p><p>We explore the science of laughter, why it matters more than we think, and what it is actually doing to our brains, our bodies and our relationships.</p><p>Professor Sophie Scott is a Fellow of the Royal Society and one of the UK&#39;s leading voices on the neuroscience of laughter and communication. She has been named among the UK&#39;s top 100 scientists and is known for making complex science accessible and joyful including through her own stand-up comedy. She has spent decades studying why humans laugh, when we laugh and what happens in the brain when we do.</p><p>What we explore together:</p><p>-Why laughter is a social behaviour first and a response to humour second </p><p>-What rats, chimpanzees and cows can teach us about why we laugh </p><p>-What laughter actually does to the brain and body and why it is so good for us </p><p>-Why we are 30 times more likely to laugh with other people than alone </p><p>-The difference between fake laughter and real laughter and how your brain knows the difference </p><p>-Why laughter is one of the most powerful tools we have for connection and resilience </p><p>-What stand-up comedy taught a neuroscientist about human behaviour</p><p>Love, Sarah Ann 💛</p><p>My book &#39;Healthy Shouldn&#39;t Be This Hard&#39;: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Healthy-Shouldnt-Be-This-Hard-ebook/dp/B0G1DHNRV5</p><p>This episode is sponsored by: </p><p>NOWATCH: The compassionate health tracker Connecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today </p><p>👉 15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/</p><p>PULSETTO: Vagus nerve stimulation for stress, sleep and calm 👉 Use code SARAHANN at https://pulsetto.sjv.io/SARAHANN</p><p>The Great British Veg Out How to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more, not less. 👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/p/t…</p><p>Reset Your Health If your body feels off after stress, travel, or burnout, this is where to start. 👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/s/r...</p><p>👉 Practical beats perfect. Here&#39;s a free 5-recipe PDF I use to support energy and stress during busy weeks. https://sarahannmacklin.com/5_free_recipes</p><p>👉 If this resonates, you can join the