Mj. Citardi et al., VIDEOENDOSCOPIC ANALYSIS OF LARYNGEAL FUNCTION DURING LAUGHTER, The Annals of otology, rhinology & laryngology, 105(7), 1996, pp. 545-549
Although commonly encountered in all human cultures, laughter remains
poorly understood. In order to examine laryngeal function during laugh
ter, telescopic and fiberscopic videolaryngoscopy was performed on fiv
e subjects, who laughed in the different vowels, at various frequencie
s, and in several voice qualities. During laughter, the vocal folds we
re found consistently to undergo rhythmic abduction and adduction. At
the end of these specific phonation tasks, all subjects were able to g
ain voluntary control of paramedian vocal fold positioning. This study
better defined laryngeal function during laughter. These results have
important clinical implications. Voluntary vocal fold positioning has
important applications in speech therapy for dysphonias, such as voca
l fold nodules, in which the primary cause is vocal fold hyperadductio
n. Patients suffering from these hyperadductive dysphonias may be able
to utilize laughter to correct them.