Study finds humans and great apes laugh in similar ways; insights reveal vocal evolution over 15 million years

A recent study published in Communications Biology highlights the similarities in laughter between humans and great apes, suggesting a shared evolutionary trait dating back 15 million years. Researchers analyzed recordings of laughter from 13 captive apes, including orangutans, chimpanzees, and bonobos, alongside human children.¹³⁵⁶

The study found that both humans and great apes exhibit consistent rhythmic patterns when laughing, particularly during tickling. “In a way, we are very similar to other great apes because we’ve been laughing in a similar way for 15 million years,” said Chiara De Gregorio, a primatologist at the University of Warwick.

The laughter of great apes was shown to be isochronous, meaning it involves regular timing between vocal bursts. This finding extends previous evidence of isochrony in orangutan vocalizations and suggests that laughter has evolved to suit different social contexts. “These giggles evolved to best suit animals’ different social lives,” noted Brittany Florkiewicz, an animal communication expert.⁴⁷

The analysis included 140 sequences of laughter, revealing that while tickling laughter was highly regular, laughter during play was more variable. “While in play, laughter was a bit messy,” explained De Gregorio, highlighting the complexity of social interactions among primates. This research provides valuable insights into the evolution of vocal control that may have paved the way for the emergence of language.