Story perspectives

Human Laughter Faster, Context-Driven Than Ape Giggles

6/27/2026

Summary

Story summary

Chiara De Gregorio’s team finds human laughter evolved to be faster and context-dependent than great-ape laughter.
They recorded tickle-induced laughs from 13 captive apes and four children, publishing Thursday in Communications Biology.
Chimp and bonobo giggles match human laugh timing, suggesting a shared rhythm from 15 million years ago.
Brittany Florkiewicz notes laughter ranges from chuckles to guffaws, a flexibility absent in apes, and urges studies on dogs, horses and cats.

1 of 1

Story summary

Chiara De Gregorio’s team finds human laughter evolved to be faster and context-dependent than great-ape laughter.
They recorded tickle-induced laughs from 13 captive apes and four children, publishing Thursday in Communications Biology.
Chimp and bonobo giggles match human laugh timing, suggesting a shared rhythm from 15 million years ago.
Brittany Florkiewicz notes laughter ranges from chuckles to guffaws, a flexibility absent in apes, and urges studies on dogs, horses and cats.