Laughter really is the best medicine. A good bout of jolly laughter can benefit you and those around you in more ways than you even know. Since the holidays are a great time to laugh with family and friends, here’s some information on the therapeutic effects of laughter.

The sound of laughter may make you smile and laugh, British researchers report. According to the study in the Journal of Neuroscience, when people hear the sound of laughter, their brain areas that control smiling and laughing become active.