The Baby Laughter Project
The laughter of tiny babies is not just a phenomenally popular theme for YouTube videos, it is also a fantastic window into the workings of the human brain. You can’t laugh unless you get the joke. At the University of London's Birkbeck Babylab we study how babies learn about the world. We believe that studying early laughter in detail will throw new light on the workings of babies’ brains, as well as offering new insights into the uniquely human characteristic that is humor.
We are researching just what makes babies laugh by conducting the largest ever global survey of early laughter. If you are parent with a child under two, you can take the survey. It takes about 15-20 minutes to complete.
We are also interested on particular incidents that made your baby laugh. Who was present? What was so funny? You can file a 'field report'.
Project Details
- PRINCIPAL SCIENTIST: Mark Johnson, Director
- SCIENTIST AFFILIATION: University of London's Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development
- DATES: Ongoing
- PROJECT TYPE: Questionnaire
- COST: Free
- GRADE LEVEL: All Ages
- TIME COMMITMENT: Variable
- HOW TO JOIN:
To find out more about the project, visit The Baby Laughter Project Web site.
See more projects in Free, Questionnaire, All Ages.
See what we're tweeting about
6 Comments
Add CommentYou should post videos on YouTube - one goes viral and that will get the word out.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisOr, in other words, "Vids or it didn't happen!"
:)
I'm so glad you are doing this. I would also like information concerning the moment the baby first hears her/his own laughter and the concern that crosses the baby's face.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisAn important assay of a basic and important human quality, one that clearly has its early roots that deserve further investigation. I am delighted to see that this promising project is now well underway.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisJohn C. Fentress, PhD
Eugene, Oregon
Hi Steve,
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI'm the researcher behind this project. We already thought of that. We've got a blog of baby videos and are encouraging parents to send us links to their best ones. We've had a few so far but none have gone viral yet. Fingers crossed. As I say on the site, Cats may have won the internet but laughing babies are winning at youtube :)
Dr. Caspar Addyman
Babies are uncluttered by programmed beliefs. They tune into INTENT. Having had five children I know you can make them laugh at ANYTHING even when they hurt themselves. Once you realize this you have to know we can create environs for them to grizzle & whine.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisBaby's laugh when they recognise something.Baby's are born as Neandertals: short necks, they can swallow and breath at the same time, and so on. They expect to arrive in a world of dancing/singing the creation story of the world and of hanging on mama while she is gathering or preparing food. That's why we always are shaking our baby's or keep them moving.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this