By: Ian Sample Science editor | Good for a laugh: canned laughter makes jokes seem funnier | Neuroscience | The Guardian
Research finds recording of spontaneous laughter is more effective than controlled one
In research that will ensure the sitcoms of the future are as painful as those broadcast today, scientists have found that canned laughter makes bad jokes seem funnier.
The impact of overlaid laughter emerged from a study with autistic and “neurotypical” people, all of whom agreed to endure 40 jokes that were read aloud with recorded laughter following the punchline.
Related: I’m a scientist studying laughter – and it’s funnier than you might think | Sophie Scott
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