Primates

[ysabetwordsmith]

New study finds apes feel more optimistic after hearing laughter, indicates 'evolution of positive emotions'

Laughter — closely tied to language and a sense of humor — has long been thought to be uniquely human.
But in a new study out of Indiana University, researchers have discovered that bonobos, the closest living relative to human beings, along with chimpanzees, tend to be more optimistic after hearing similar vocalizations during play with their fellow apes.


I imagine that the people who mistake laughter for uniquely human have never had a cat look right at them, shove something of a shelf, and then laugh.  Animals I have observed laughing include cats, dogs, horses, goats, and multiple species of birds.

Comments

[wispfox]

Now I'm trying to decide if I've realized a cat was laughing. I may not recognize that! And I spoke cat before I spoke human (body languages).

Thoughts

[ysabetwordsmith]

I have noticed at least two feline laughs:

* an open-mouthed laugh (common across multiple species)

* a squinting-eye laugh, akin to a smirk, usually used when playing a prank or mocking someone else's misfortune; and which is different from the slow blink of affection.

[(Anonymous)]

Rats laugh and rabbits...though the rabbits more popcorn hop than audibly laugh, guinea pigs laugh and also will call out to specific human friends if they hear them come in or speak, they have a particular sort of pitch to their wheek when they greet you and my baby cousin learned how to wheek back, you have to be able to roll your rs like in Spanish for proper pronunciation though 😉

[claudeb]

Humans have spent so long thinking their cognitive and emotional skills are somehow unique. Now we keep finding evidence to the contrary. It's almost as if it was a matter of paying attention.

Yes ...

[ysabetwordsmith]

That, and a matter of not losing your career over challenging speciesism.