1. County Durham & Darlington Fire & Rescue Service Laughology: Physiological Benefits of Laughter, Humour & Personal Growth Laughology and Honorary Lecturer University of Chester Stephanie Davies, Creative Director

2. Copyright of Laughology©All rights reserved 2008

3. Copyright of Laughology©All rights reserved 2008 Stephanie Davies Cognitive laughter and humour consultant

4. Copyright of Laughology©All rights reserved 2008 A model for living A flexible approach that brings about fast, positive change in individuals and organisations - empowering them to adapt to an ever-changing world.

5. Copyright of Laughology©All rights reserved 2008 What is Laughter? What is Humour?

6. Copyright of Laughology©All rights reserved 2008 An audible expression or appearance of merriment or amusement. Encyclopaedia Online The outward energy to humour Particular cognitive experiences to provoke laughter and provide amusement, a State of mind Encyclopaedia Online A system for information processing.

7. Copyright of Laughology©All rights reserved 2008 Research shows that stress hormones—that can constrict blood vessels and suppress immune activity--decrease in the body as a result of laughter. Maryland School of Medicine news March 11, 1999 Laughter helps blood vessels function better Mary land school of medicine

8. Copyright of Laughology©All rights reserved 2008 Humour and laughter is learned, a person can develop a better sense of humour; that would affect one's own nature in a remarkable way and could be more Conducive to good health. Dr Michael Miller UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND SCHOOL OF MEDICINE Humour Brain Training

9. Copyright of Laughology©All rights reserved 2008 Write down as many things/words/situations that make you laugh?

10. Copyright of Laughology©All rights reserved 2008 Neotenous Neoteny is the study of juvenile traits within human beings whether this be physical or mental. As children we are at our best developmental stage, we are playful, full of imagination and flexible

11. Copyright of Laughology©All rights reserved 2008 Laughter Effects Laughter provides enjoyable exercise and provides abdominal exercise William Fry M.D. a Stanford University Medical School Increases levels of natural killer (NK) cells and antibodies to boost the immune system Dr Lee Berk & Stanley Tan of the Loma Linda University Medical Centre Reduces blood pressure and heart rate if practiced regularly University of Maryland medical Centre Dr Miller Reduces stress hormones University of Maryland medical Centre Dr Miller

12. Copyright of Laughology©All rights reserved 2008 The Humour being The Brain and Humor Prefrontal Cortex holds our ability for humour. This area of our brain is used for flexible thinking, to untangle an abstract idea, and understand it's amusing message.Society for Neuroscience

13. Copyright of Laughology©All rights reserved 2008 Laughology humour toolkit Fake it Language imagination Pattern breaking

14. Copyright of Laughology©All rights reserved 2008 SMILE P erformance of Self S mall M easurable I mprovements L asting E mpowering Prisoners of War kept their morale up by telling jokes to each other in Morse code through their prison walls. Gerald Coffee, author of Beyond Survival,

15. Copyright of Laughology©All rights reserved 2008 Appropriate humour 1.Humour needs to be inclusive. 2.Humour can not be deliberately offensive or hurtful 3.Humour should not be used against someone. 4.Humour should be mirthful and with positive intent.

16. Copyright of Laughology©All rights reserved 2008 Fire Services Police Services Cardiac Patient care programme Knowsley CVD public health engagement programme Breathe Easy Support Network Royal Liverpool Hospital well-being at work Alder hey children's Hospital Isle of Man Community Nurses Mencap IOM Healthy Schools

17. Copyright of Laughology©All rights reserved 2008 Stephanie@laughology.co.uk 0844 800 1701 www.laughology.co.uk