What do you think of when you picture your favorite memories? Maybe you hear the receding waves of the ocean on a beach trip you took with friends. Maybe you see towering skyscrapers as you walk down long boulevards of a big city with your family. Maybe you smell gooey marshmallows and hear ghost stories told on a camping trip.

Regardless of what you're imagining, the memories likely include smiling so hard that your cheeks hurt and the sounds of echoing laughter. When I look at candid pictures from my happiest recollections, laughter always takes center stage. Whether it's small chuckles at a funny pun or full body laughter that brings happy tears, joy and laughter seem to go hand-in-hand.

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But why? Why is laughter ubiquitous in our most cherished memories?

The answers lie in science. When we laugh, our bodies release endorphins and dopamine. These naturally produced "feel-good" chemicals aid in relaxation and improving our mood.

In addition, laughing has numerous other health and social benefits. So, let's explore why laughter is integral to our happiness and health, including all of the science behind it. Here are three reasons why laughter is the best medicine and an underrated wellness tool:

1. It's a Mood Booster

When we laugh, endorphins help our brains feel happiness. This is because endorphins are neurotransmitters that send messages to our nervous systems' "reward centers." These messages then produce dopamine, which encourages us to continue laughing and makes us feel good.

Endorphins can also alleviate stress since they bind to opiate receptors. In the brain stem and spinal cord, endorphins prevent these receptors from signaling pain to the brain, thereby reducing the effects and feeling of stress on our bodies.

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Furthermore, according to Senior Consultant Cardiologist Dr. Rachel Hajar at Heart Hospital in Doha, Qatar, laughter "relieves physical tension and stress, leaving your muscles relaxed for up to 45 min after."

Also, when paired with the "feel-good" sensation of released dopamine, the chemicals produced from laughing can boost our mood, increase relaxation, and give us motivation to continue having fun.

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2. Laughing Helps Your Immune System

Not only does laughing assist with creating happy moments, but it can also build a stronger immune system.

Neuropeptides, which bridge the immune system with the nervous system, are released while laughing. These messengers can dictate the body's reaction to infection and inflammation as well as fight against parasites and microbes (fungi, bacteria, etc).

White blood cells called T cells are also activated by laughter. T cells are important agents in fighting infections since they help the body create a synchronized reaction to infectious agents (like bacteria and viruses) and rid the body of any cells infected by the pathogens.

Overall, laughter builds antibodies paramount to strengthening your immune system and reducing cortisol (a hormone released when you're stressed).

3. Laughter Builds Connections and Creativity

When one person laughs, it can cause a chain reaction of laughter from the people around them due to mirror neurons, which are either activated when you see someone's physical movements or when you perform those same motor actions yourself.

Laughing can also serve as an icebreaker and help build rapport with others, since laughter can convey trust and safety. Oxytocin, a nautral hormone released while laughing, transmits messages of trust to your brain, creating a more open and comfortable environment.

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In group projects at school, work, or in your extracurricular activities, laughter is also key to being creative. Researchers John Kounios (Drexel University psychology professor and director of the Applied Cognitive and Brain Science doctoral program) and Mark Beeman (Northwestern University professor of the Interdepartmental Program in Neuroscience and Psychology) found links between laughter and solving puzzles. Their results found that participants who watched a stand-up comedy performance by Robin Williams were 20% better at solving complex logic puzzles.

Backed by science, laughter is an easy way to create a more relaxing, collaborative, and creative group dynamic.

Concluding Thoughts

Not only do laughs provide the benefits above, but they can also help with heart health. As your heart beats faster due to laughter, hemoglobin carries oxygen-rich blood throughout the body to various organs and tissues. This increased circulation can reduce stress on the heart and improve blood flow, necessary for growth, long-term health, fighting infections, and maintaining homeostasis (ex: a consistent body temperature).

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Plus, laughter can increase your energy, reduce your worries, and assist in communication with others. These benefits, along with the ones listed above, can help create more productive, less stressed, and better connected relationships and environments that lead to a happier and healthier life. So next time that you're thinking about sharing a witty pun, don't be afraid to LOL IRL.