Department of Neurology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstrasse 55, Essen, Germany.
Cerebellum. 2012 Jun;11(2):564-73. doi: 10.1007/s12311-011-0320-z.
Humor is a complex behavior which includes cognitive, affective and motor responses. Based on observations of affective changes in patients with cerebellar lesions, the cerebellum may support cerebral and brainstem areas involved in understanding and appreciation of humorous stimuli and expression of laughter. The aim of the present study was to examine if humor appreciation, perception of humorous stimuli, and the succeeding facial reaction differ between patients with cerebellar degeneration and healthy controls. Twenty-three adults with pure cerebellar degeneration were compared with 23 age-, gender-, and education-matched healthy control subjects. No significant difference in humor appreciation and perception of humorous stimuli could be found between groups using the 3 Witz-Dimensionen Test, a validated test asking for funniness and aversiveness of jokes and cartoons. Furthermore, while observing jokes, humorous cartoons, and video sketches, facial expressions of subjects were videotaped and afterwards analysed using the Facial Action Coding System. Using depression as a covariate, the number, and to a lesser degree, the duration of facial expressions during laughter were reduced in cerebellar patients compared to healthy controls. In sum, appreciation of humor appears to be largely preserved in patients with chronic cerebellar degeneration. Cerebellar circuits may contribute to the expression of laughter. Findings add to the literature that non-motor disorders in patients with chronic cerebellar disease are generally mild, but do not exclude that more marked disorders may show up in acute cerebellar disease and/or in more specific tests of humor appreciation.
幽默是一种复杂的行为，包括认知、情感和运动反应。基于对小脑损伤患者情感变化的观察，小脑可能支持大脑和脑干区域理解和欣赏幽默刺激以及表达笑声。本研究的目的是检验小脑退行性变患者与健康对照组在幽默欣赏、幽默刺激感知和随后的面部反应方面是否存在差异。将 23 名单纯小脑退行性变患者与 23 名年龄、性别和教育程度匹配的健康对照组进行比较。使用 3 Witz-Dimensionen 测试，该测试要求评估笑话和漫画的有趣性和令人不快程度，来评估幽默欣赏和幽默刺激感知，两组之间没有发现显著差异。此外，在观察笑话、幽默漫画和视频小品时，对受试者的面部表情进行录像，然后使用面部动作编码系统进行分析。使用抑郁作为协变量，与健康对照组相比，小脑患者在大笑时的面部表情数量减少，在一定程度上，大笑的持续时间也减少。总之，慢性小脑退行性变患者的幽默欣赏能力似乎基本保持不变。小脑回路可能有助于笑声的表达。这些发现增加了文献中关于慢性小脑疾病患者的非运动障碍通常较轻的证据，但不能排除在急性小脑疾病和/或更特定的幽默欣赏测试中可能会出现更明显的障碍。
