Why our brains make us laugh - new book! http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/satire-humor-parody/threads/39928 JosephNobles http://www.bostonglobe.com/ideas/2011/11/20/why-our-brains-make-laugh/l0OWxVcnRpzfyIheFgab5N/story.html Interesting ideas here. The authors are wondering just why it is that we have this thing called humor, and they posit humor is a reward to make the effort of discovering mistakes worthwhile, especially before they become costly mistakes. "Hurley and his coauthors begin from the idea that our brains make sense of our daily lives via a never ending series of assumptions, based on sparse, incomplete information. All these best guesses simplify our world, give us critical insights into the minds of others, and streamline our decisions. But mistakes are inevitable, and even a small faulty assumption can open the door to bigger and costlier mistakes. "Enter mirth, a little pulse of reward the brain gives itself for seeking out and correcting our mistaken assumptions. A sense of humor is the lure that keeps our brains alert for the gaps between our quick-fire assumptions and reality. As “Inside Jokes” argues, much of what we consider comedy takes advantage of this cognitive reflex, much as McDonald’s taps our evolved taste for high-energy food." Much more at the link. Sun, 20 Nov 2011 10:14:08 +0000 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/satire-humor-parody/threads/39928?page=1#forum_thread_comment_777354 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/satire-humor-parody/threads/39928?page=1#forum_thread_comment_777354