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michael · super moderator Joined: 13 Oct 2007 Posts: 981

The basis for laughter may have originated in an ancient primate ancestral to both humans and modern apes, a study suggests.
Scientists found that orang-utans had a sense of empathy and mimicry which forms an essential part of laughter.

Facial expressions, such as the open, gaping mouth resembling laughter, were picked up and copied by orang-utans.

The speed with which they were mimicked suggests these expressions were involuntary, Biology Letters reports.

In other words, the "laughter" was contagious.

More of the Story
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oneofyou · Joined: 13 Oct 2007 Posts: 13 Location: Ontario, Canada

Thanks Michael, that was interesting reading.
Guess that's where the expression "monkey see monkey do" came from. bounce

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One of you

GardenTalker · Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008 2:06 am Post subject:

The only thing that differentiates man from monkey are thumbs LOL
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