Get Serious about Silliness

From the Times this morning:

"...there is a connection between the brain, hormones, the nervous system and the immune system. “Laughter produces all kinds of things that help our immune systems. Each immune cell has a receptor which looks like a satellite dish, and when substances such as endorphins or growth hormones are plugged in, cells are told to increase activity. Adversely, if cortisol generated from distress is plugged in, activity is decreased.”



"Dr Berk couldn’t agree more. “People think that the concept of getting together to laugh for no good reason is silly — but take going to the gym. Where are they all running to? Medical science needs to get serious about silliness — and the sooner it does so, the healthier we will be.”