 | Drummond (54)
02/21/2006 | Well, Dr. Weil believes that a "gut busting, eye watering, fit of hysteria" (quoted in Disinfo) is likely to create a sense of well-being and a nice high. He believes that during laughter, "our logical, uptight cerebral cortex is no longer in control, having given over to the primitive brainstem." Apparently this is evidenced by the creation of tears and the spasming of the diaphram and the "loss of upright posture" that occur when you laugh - but not just any laugh. It's got to be one hell of a laugh. Basically, where there are signs that the automatic nervous system has taken over.
Research also suggests that laughter reduces stress hormones such as dopamine and releases endorphins.
Supposedly a good crying can do the same thing, producing a "cleansed feeling" due to endorphins, deeper breathing, and "other effects of the limbic system."
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 | Jed1000 (72)
02/21/2006 | I'll admit to having cried on a few occasions in my life, but all it did was give me a stomache ache. Laughing is obviously pleasant, but again, no change of conciousnous. I suppose if you did either one hysterically and uncontrollably for an extended period of time something might happen.
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