The Times of India

Great Apes and human beings have been laughing similarly for the last 15 million years: Study

A recent study reveals that humans and great apes share remarkably similar laughter rhythms, suggesting this vocalization dates back 15 million years to a common ancestor. Researchers found consistent rhythmic patterns in the laughter of humans, chimpanzees, bonobos, gorillas, and orangutans when tickled. This ancient, shared vocal trait predates speech and offers insights into the evolution of social communication, highlighting how human laughter has since become more nuanced and context-dependent.