Dad jokes may be good for your brain in one surprising way, experts say

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JD Vance reveals his favorite dad joke

� ‘The Five’.The discussion is sparked by recent research highlighted in The Washington Post, which indicates that humor, even ‘cringeworthy’ dad jokes, plays a surprisingly important role in parenting and can help strengthen the bond between fathers and children.The panel illustrates this point with their own memorable one-liners.

“My neighbor tiled my roof for free.He said it was on the house.”

While that dad joke might elicit a heavy sigh from family members, experts say a silly pun can alter internal bodychemistryand lower stress, potentially providing real health benefits.

Dad jokes are uniquely distinguished by their structure, content and comedic devices, according to a study published on PsyArXiv, an open-access preprint repository for psychology research.

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In analyzing thousands of examples, psychologists Paul J.Silvia (University of North Carolina at Greensboro) and Meriel I.Burnett (University of Massachusetts Amherst) found that dad humor is firmly rooted in puns and wordplay.

While more advancedcomedyrequires context, a joke about a neighbor’s roof may only require someone to understand the dual meaning of a single phrase.

Father and teenage son playing together on a beach in Australia

Experts claim a pun can change body chemistry and lower stress.(iStock)

This predictable structure makes dad jokes broadly accessible, creating opportunities for shared humor across generations, the researchers said.

Laughter alters internal chemistry bydecreasing stress hormoneslike cortisol and epinephrine, while simultaneously increasing happiness chemicals like dopamine, serotonin and endorphins.

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A 2023 review in PLOS One found that a single laughter session could slash cortisol levels by more than 36%.This drop in stress lights up regions like the prefrontal cortex, helping the brain to process complex ideas.

Studies have linked pun comprehension to verbal ability, creative thinking and the ability to make connections between different meanings.

Dad putting his arm out to hug daughter and wife at airport

Sharing a good laugh can boost oxytocin, a hormone known to deepen emotional bonds between parents and children.(iStock)

“When we seechildren laugh, we witness the brilliance of the brain in action: learning, connecting and growing,�

In her book, “The Brain That Loves to Laugh,” Harding states that joy is a complex biological phenomenon thathelps childrennavigate stress and build more resilient, receptive minds.

“Hope and humor, it seems, are not just the seasoning of life, but foundational to a recipe for healthy development.”

The physical benefit extends directly to the family unit.Sharing a good laugh can boost oxytocin, a hormone known to deepen emotional bonds between parents and children.It also promotes what psychologists call co-regulation, experts say.

A dad sitting with his daughter enjoying time at home

Sharing a good laugh can boost oxytocin, a hormone known to deepen emotional bonds between parents and children.(iStock)

This process allows individuals to manage their own stress by drawing on a shared biological store of positive, safe experiences.

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“Spontaneous, joyful play is an antidote to stress, as it increases levels of endorphins released by the brain,” Harding said.

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“Creative, happy play does its most brilliant work at a molecular level, especially at a time when thehuman brainis at its most receptive.”

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