Scientists believe that there is a communal aspect to laughter, even when that laughter is artificial. Research
suggests that people laugh more commonly when they
watch sitcoms with a laugh track (a prerecorded clip of
audience laughter that is played after a character
makes a funny statement) than when watching a sitcom
without one. While this may suggest that people need
cues for humor, research suggests that people are also
more laughter-prone when spending time with
individuals than when spending time solo (Rogers).