True/False/Not given
People usually laugh because tickling causes pain.
False
(Tickling is not said to cause pain, but rather giggling and laughter.)
Yngve Zotterman discovered that tickling is related to both ________. pain and touch
(Paragraph B: “tickling sensations involve signals from nerve fibers… associated with pain and touch.”)
pain and touch
(Paragraph B: “tickling sensations involve signals from nerve fibers… associated with pain and touch.”)
What is one reason people can’t tickle themselves?
A. Their skin is not sensitive enough
B. Their brains ignore the expected sensation
C. Their muscles are too relaxed
D. The brain causes pain instead of laughter
B
(Paragraph E: “the cerebellum tells… what sensation to expect… dampens the tickling.”)
Some people cannot laugh when tickled because their nerve endings are damaged.
False
(People who lost pain sensation still laugh when tickled – paragraph B.)
Ticklish spots like the feet and neck usually cause ________ laughter. heavy
(Paragraph B: “Heavy laughter is caused by… tickling a particular area.”)
heavy
(Paragraph B: “Heavy laughter is caused by… tickling a particular area.”)
What can laughter help improve?
A. Blood sugar levels
B. Lung capacity
C. Mental focus
D. The immune system
D
(Paragraph C: “boost to dying immune system.”)
Watching funny videos can sometimes help people feel less pain.
True
(Humorous videos can reduce pain – paragraph C.)
The cerebellum tells the brain that self-tickling is ________.
not surprising
(Paragraph E: “When we tickle ourselves… there is no tension or surprise.”)
According to studies, people with damage to the frontal lobe:
A. Laugh more than usual
B. Cannot understand any jokes
C. Struggle to choose correct punchlines
D. Laugh at things that are not funny
C
(Paragraph D: “Subjects with damaged frontal lobes… chose wrong punch lines.”)
Brain imaging studies showed that jokes always activate the left side of the brain.
False
(The frontal lobe is mentioned, especially the right frontal lobe – paragraph G.)
The part of the brain linked to recognizing jokes is just above the ________.
right eye
(Paragraph G: “right frontal lobe just above the right eye.”)
What did the study by Christenfeld and Harris show?
A. People laugh more when tickled by machines
B. Machines cannot cause ticklish laughter
C. Surprise is not necessary for laughter
D. People laughed even when tickled by a machine
D
(Paragraph E: “people laughed equally whether tickled by a machine or a person.”)
According to Darwin, surprise is important for tickling to cause laughter.
True
(Darwin linked tickling to anticipation and surprise – paragraph E.)
Stroke victims may lose their sense of humor due to damage in the ________.
frontal lobe
(Paragraph G: “The same part of the brain is also associated with… humor.”)
Dr. Shibata believes that the right frontal lobe helps people:
A. Decide if something is funny
B. Feel pain
C. Improve memory
D. Sleep better
A
(Paragraph G: “frontal lobe… critical to our ability to recognize a joke.”)