Naked Science Forum
Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: EatsRainbows on 14/11/2009 14:46:36
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Some of my friends and myself seem to suffer from this condition of hysterical laughter at things that are not even particularly funny when sleep deprived. Any ideas as to why?? im thinking perhaps an increase in some brain chemical that occurs when the brain is preparing for sleep but google has failed to enlighten me [;)]
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Emotional Lability ?
For example, a person may be genuinely happy, but once the laughter has started they may be unable to stop or regulate the behaviour, laughing too loud, too much, or for too long.
Coping with Emotional Lability
Become aware of triggers
Be aware of triggers for emotional lability and try to avoid these when you can.
Triggers can include: excessive fatigue or tiredness
http://www.health.qld.gov.au/abios/documents/behaviour_mgt/lability.pdf
Emotional Lability would not be limited to excessive laughter: all emotional responses would be hyper.
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Acquired brain injury can change parts of the brain that regulate or control emotional behaviour and feelings
These behaviours can be confusing, embarrassing, and difficult to understand for the person with brain injury and for others around them.
http://www.health.qld.gov.au/abios/documents/behaviour_mgt/lability.pdf
hahaha, so you are suggesting RD that myself and a large proportion of my friends (actually come to think of it ive only seen females do it [:P] ) suffer from brain damage? [:o] I certainly hope note [;)]
I recall the first time i realised that its associated to fatigue, i was about 12 years old. i started giggling and couldnt stop after a mate told a joke, he looked at me and said "you're tired". Ive always assumed that it was normal, is it not?? hehe
On the note of sex of the individual, ive actually never seen it happen to any males i know! Do any of you experience this? or is this indeed an unfortunate condition of the female species? [:D]
an affect on the brain akin to alcohol in that it takes the edge off of tenseness or nervousness or inhibitions
You could be onto something there DiscoverDave [:)] But why, biologically would this occur? given that alcohol is something that interferes with normal neuron activity, sleep deprivation does perhaps too? I have read that with seriously prolonged sleep deprivation individuals may begin to hallucinate....
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In this regard, I get the impression that tiredness has an affect on the brain akin to alcohol in that it takes the edge off of tenseness or nervousness or inhibitions (and also think of being "too tired to drive" -- inattentiveness, slow response, mistakes -- similar to alcohol's effects). So, perhaps especially after something that makes you stressful and tired, the tiredness helps you to unwind, and the giggles come more easily.
I agree with the link between alcohol and tiredness - I feel tired after drinking too much alcohol - and am giggly!
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I would never avoid the giggles they always give me the realy good feelings that are so importnt and seldom happen enough for me...
I to have never seen a male with the giggles but I get them often when my tickle bone is stimulated.
When I am tired yes, Then too, but also when I am about to hit the wall...after long bouts of insomnia. It always feels good and releases my stress during those times...makes me feel relieved after and more relaxed and more able to seek slumber....in that relaxed happy state!
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Because they read this thread:
http://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/index.php?topic=19965.0