For the “laughter” video, volunteers were given a variety of options including performances by stand-up comedians and scenes from comedy movies. They were allowed to choose clips that most appealed to their individual sense of humour.
Each participant sat through both videos with a week’s gap in between to ensure their effects did not overlap.
The researchers took measurements of blood pressure and carried out blood tests to check levels of two appetite hormones, leptin and ghrelin.
No significant effect on the hormones was seen after volunteers viewed the distressing video. But watching the humorous clip both caused changes in blood pressure and led levels of leptin to decrease as those of ghrelin went up.
Similar effects are seen straight after moderate physical exercise, and are accompanied by an increase in appetite.
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