WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-Laughing Babies Study
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Johnson, Vermont - December 24, 2008
Four month-old Will Sorenson loves to play games -- and so does Merlin Poutre. Merlin is a student at Johnson State College. He's trying to capture interactions like these as part of a research study that looks at how babies develop humor and laughter.
"One of the things we're finding is that infants learn humor like they do language, from their parents, and it can vary across cultures," said Poutre.
This is one of only a handful of studies ever conducted on the subject. Researchers hope to determine exactly when babies begin to laugh and interpret humor, as well as when, why, and how babies try to make others laugh.
"The most popular theories suggest that doesn't happen until children are about 4 years old. We think that's not true. We think that happens much sooner. We just haven't been paying attention," says Dr. Gina Mireault of Johnson State College, who is overseeing the study.
"Since they first started coming he's gotten more interactive. He'll smile more, is definitely vocalizing more than he used to," says Will's mother Erin Sorenson.
In additional to the monthly home visits, participating mothers use voice recorders to describe the humorous interactions they have with their children on a daily basis. Researchers believe humor development is key to a baby's healthy emotional development, promoting attachment and emotional bonding.
"When babies are playing a game they might not even realize it's a game except that mom and dad will give them all the cues, will giggle, will smile, to let them know this is fun," said Mireault.
The research will eventually be published in a scholarly journal -- and presented at a national conference in Washington D.C. this spring. The Laughing Babies Study is funded by the Vermont Genetics Network. Twelve babies are currently enrolled, but eight more are needed. Click here if you are interested in participating.
Keagan Harsha - WCAX News
