"My neighbor tiled my roof for free.He said it was on the house."While that dad joke might elicit a heavy sigh from family members, experts say a silly pun can alter internal body chemistry and lower stress, potentially providing real health benefits.Dad jokes are uniquely distinguished by their structure, content and comedic devices, according to a study published on PsyArXiv, an open-access preprint repository for psychology research.TRENDY ‘CORTISOL COCKTAIL’ COULD MELT STRESS AND POUNDS AWAY, INFLUENCERS CLAIMIn analyzing thousands of examples, psychologists Paul J.
Silvia (University of North Carolina at Greensboro) and Meriel I.Burnett (University of Massachusetts Amherst) found that dad humor is firmly rooted in puns and wordplay.While more advanced comedy requires context, a joke about a neighbor's roof may only require someone to understand the dual meaning of a single phrase.Experts claim a pun can change body chemistry and lower stress.
(iStock)This predictable structure makes dad jokes broadly accessible, creating opportunities for shared humor across generations, the researchers said.Laughter alters internal chemistry by decreasing stress hormones like cortisol and epinephrine, while simultaneously increasing happiness chemicals like dopamine, serotonin and endorphins.GRANDPARENTS WHO BABYSIT THEIR GRANDCHILDREN STAY MENTALLY SHARPER, NEW STUDY REVEALSA 2023 review in PLOS One found that a single laughter session could slash cortisol levels by more than 36%.This drop in stress lights up regions like the prefrontal cortex, helping the brain to process complex ideas.CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIESStudies have linked pun comprehension to verbal ability, creative thinking and the ability to make connections between different meanings.Sharing a good laugh can boost oxytocin, a hormone known to deepen emotional bonds between parents and children.
(iStock)"When we see children laugh, we witness the brilliance of the brain in action: learning, connect...