Giggling's in the genes, research reveals
BEING prone to bouts of giggling is in the genes, a study claims.
Researchers found that people with a variant gene laughed more while watching funny films
People with a variant gene, which changes the way the chemical serotonin works on the brain, laughed more while watching amusing films, scientists say.
Researchers found people with short variants of the gene 5-HTTLPR, are more sensitive to both positive and negative emotions.
Dr Claudia Haase, from Northwestern University in Illinois said: “The short [variant] amplifies emotional reactions to both good and bad environments.
“People with [the short variant] may flourish in a positive environment and suffer in a negative one.”
For the study, published in the journal Emotion, participants were shown cartoons and a “subtly amusing” film clip.