Scientists have called laughter the key to studying the evolution of human speech
The ancestors of modern humans and great apes began laughing at least 15 million years ago. This was reported by Popular Science magazine on June 25.
Researchers at the University of Warwick analyzed recordings of vocalizations from four orangutans, five gorillas, four chimpanzees, three bonobos and four humans. In the course of the work, scientists have identified a single pattern in 14 laughter sequences: all six species laugh with uniform rhythmic intervals between sounds.
Such a basic structure, according to experts, was present in the common ancestor of all hominids who lived 15 million years ago. Despite millions of years of evolution, this rhythmic pattern has been preserved in all living great apes.
"By comparing the laughter of different species, we can see that the basic rhythmic structure has remained unchanged since our last common ancestor," said study co—author, University of Warwick primatologist Dr. Chiara De Gregorio.
According to the publication, while maintaining the basic rhythm, human laughter has undergone changes: it has become faster, more variable, and has gained complex control depending on the context. Humans are the only hominids who are able to consciously control the process depending on the situation, distinguishing polite laughter at a meeting from an involuntary reaction to a tickle.
"Contrary to the classical notion that the first humans suddenly acquired voice control abilities that were significantly different from those of their predecessors, the evolution of laughter tells us that humans were on a continuum that is a continuation of voice control abilities that had already been honed for 15 million years," said co—author Dr. Adriano. Lameira.
Scientists consider such complex vocal control as a fundamental building block of speech. Since laughter has deep evolutionary roots, it is one of the most accessible ways to study the process of voice transformation in the course of human development.
On March 3, Science Daily reported the discovery of teeth of the first primate ancestor of the genus Purgatorium. According to the researchers, the ankle bones of the purgatoria found signs indicating life in trees. The scientists emphasized that the discovered teeth add a new perspective on the evolution of primates and may influence further research in the field of anthropology and evolutionary biology.
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