Humans and Apes Have Shared Laughter for 15 Million Years
WHO:
ABC News Tech - Humans and great apes are involved in the study.
Phys.org - The study was conducted by researchers at the University of Warwick.
WHAT:
Nature - The study analyzed laughter recordings from four species of non-human primates: four orangutans, two gorillas, three bonobos, and four chimpanzees.
Nature - The laughter recordings were collected at seven different institutions between 2004 and 2006.
Nature - A total of 140 laughter bouts were selected for analysis, including 42 from bonobos, 35 from chimpanzees, 34 from gorillas, 13 from humans, and 16 from orangutans.
ABC News Tech - A new study suggests that humans and great apes have been giggling in similar ways.
Phys.org - The study reveals that great apes may have been laughing with a similar rhythm to modern humans.
WHEN:
ABC News Tech - The shared laughter dates back 15 million years.
Phys.org - The findings provide clues to the evolution of human speech.
WHY:
Phys.org - The study offers unexpected clues to how human speech evolved.
HOW:
Nature - Audio recordings were made using a Sony WM-D6C with a Sennheiser ME 60 microphone and a Nagra IV-SJ with a Sennheiser MKH 816 microphone.
Nature - Statistical analyses were performed using the software R, with various linear mixed-effects models fitted to test laughter tempo and rhythmic structure.
Phys.org - The study analyzes the laughter patterns of great apes in comparison to humans.
(UPDATED June 26, 2026 04:23 UTC)
A recent study published in Nature analyzed laughter recordings from four species of non-human primates, including orangutans, gorillas, bonobos, and chimpanzees, with a total of 140 laughter bouts selected for analysis. The recordings, collected at seven different institutions between 2004 and 2006, featured contributions from 42 bonobos, 35 chimpanzees, 34 gorillas, 16 orangutans, and 13 humans. To conduct the analysis, researchers utilized audio recordings made with specialized equipment and performed statistical analyses using the software R to explore laughter tempo and rhythmic structure.
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(UPDATED June 25, 2026 17:45 UTC)
A new study conducted by researchers at the University of Warwick suggests that humans and great apes have been giggling in remarkably similar ways, with shared laughter dating back 15 million years. The findings reveal that great apes may laugh with a rhythm akin to that of modern humans, providing unexpected clues to the evolution of human speech. This research analyzes the laughter patterns of great apes in comparison to those of humans, shedding light on our shared communication roots.