Harding Says Laughter Boosts Child Brain Resilience, Learning and Bonding Through 3 Brain Chemicals
Updated
Updated · Good News Network · May 25
Harding Says Laughter Boosts Child Brain Resilience, Learning and Bonding Through 3 Brain Chemicals
3 articles · Updated · Good News Network · May 25
New findings highlighted by Middlesex University expert Jacqueline Harding say laughter and playful interaction help make children’s brains more resilient and more open to learning.
Harding says laughter lowers cortisol and epinephrine while raising dopamine, serotonin and endorphins, calming the nervous system, improving memory and supporting immune function.
Parent-child play — with eye contact, smiles and close proximity — can also raise oxytocin and neural synchrony, strengthening emotional bonds and easing parental stress and burnout.
Her research argues those emotional gains matter because a child’s limbic system develops alongside executive functions, meaning emotional state directly shapes learning, decision-making and stress regulation.
Harding says schools should use more humor and hope in teaching to cut cognitive load, make complex material easier to absorb and help children cope with trauma and stress.
Can technology ever replicate the brain-boosting benefits of real-life laughter between a parent and child?
If laughter builds a resilient brain, what daily habits offer the biggest neurological payoff for families?
While hailed as a superfood for young brains, when can humor actually become a barrier to learning?