Published by De Gruyter Mouton

Ahead of Print / Just Accepted

Issue of HUMOR

Contents
Journal Overview

August 26, 2017

The neurology and psychiatry of humor, smiling and laughter: A tribute to Paul McGhee. Part I. Introduction and clinical studies

Frank Rodden

Abstract

This review article was written for people like Paul McGhee when he was 20 years old: curious and interested in the neurology and psychiatry of humor, smiling and laughter but neither physicians nor experts in cognitive science. It begins with necessary reflections on what it even means to consider humor, smiling and laughter from within these disciplines. These frames of reference, useful as they are, are far from neutral. The reader is encouraged to be sensitive to some logical and linguistic pitfalls that can fatally endanger meaningful discussions of these subjects. The results of empirical studies of humor, smiling and laughter which have employed the tools of neurology and psychiatry are then reviewed, roughly in the order in which the techniques have emerged historically, beginning with clinical studies (Part I) and continuing with current studies employing functional imaging methods in Part II. Therapeutic approaches using humor, smiling and laughter, particularly with respect to neurological and psychiatric diseases – but also including other diseases – are discussed. Finally a short synopsis of what is known about the neurology and psychiatry of humor, smiling and laughter is presented.

About this journal

Objective
HUMOR was established as an international interdisciplinary forum for the publication of high-quality research papers on humor as an important and universal human faculty. Humor research draws upon a wide range of academic disciplines including anthropology, biology, cultural studies, computer science, education, communication, film and media studies, gender studies, history, linguistics, literature, mathematics, health and medicine, philosophy, political science, psychology, and sociology. At the same time, humor research often sheds light on the basic concepts, ideas, and methods of many of these disciplines.

Topics

interdisciplinary humor research
humor theory
empirical studies in humor, laughter, comedy and related fields from around the world
humor research methodologies and measurements of sense of humor
scholarly debates on the social functions of humor

Article formats
Research articles, Book reviews, Debates