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Rhythm and timing in laughter reveal that human vocal plasticity falls on a hominid continuum.

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Τίτλος: Rhythm and timing in laughter reveal that human vocal plasticity falls on a hominid continuum.
Συγγραφείς: De Gregorio C; ApeTank, Department of Psychology, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK. chiara.de-gregorio@warwick.ac.uk., Davila-Ross M; School of Psychology, Sport and Health Sciences, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, UK., Lameira AR; ApeTank, Department of Psychology, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK. adriano.lameira@warwick.ac.uk.
Πηγή: Communications biology [Commun Biol] 2026 Jun 25; Vol. 9 (1). Date of Electronic Publication: 2026 Jun 25.
Τύπος έκδοσης: Journal Article
Γλώσσα: English
Στοιχεία περιοδικού: Publisher: Nature Publishing Group UK Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 101719179 Publication Model: Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 2399-3642 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 23993642 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Commun Biol Subsets: MEDLINE
Imprint Name(s): Original Publication: London, United Kingdom : Nature Publishing Group UK, [2018]-
Ιατρικοί όροι (MeSH): Laughter*/physiology , Hominidae*/physiology , Vocalization, Animal*/physiology, Animals ; Humans ; Biological Evolution
Περίληψη: Laughter is an important, universal form of human non-linguistic vocal expression and, being shared by all extant great apes, offers a valuable proxy for tracing the evolution of vocal control that ultimately enabled language. Yet surprisingly little is known about the evolution of its defining feature, rhythm. Here we show, through comparative analyses of laughter across all extant great apes (orangutans, gorillas, bonobos, chimpanzees, humans), that the laughter of the last common ancestor was already isochronous, becoming faster, more variable, and increasingly context-sensitive over hominid evolution. The evolution of laughter's rhythm reveals a progressive increase in vocal rhythmic plasticity, with humans following the overall trajectory toward enhanced vocal control.
(© 2026. The Author(s).)
Competing Interests: Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.
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Entry Date(s): Date Created: 20260625 Date Completed: 20260626 Latest Revision: 20260726
Update Code: 20260726
PubMed Central ID: PMC13304170
DOI: 10.1038/s42003-026-10499-z
PMID: 42350767
Βάση Δεδομένων: MEDLINE
Περιγραφή
ISSN:2399-3642
DOI:10.1038/s42003-026-10499-z