Pathological laughter
Written and reviewed by Dr Ibrahim Imam, Consultant Neurologist. Last reviewed .
Pathological laughter. This is involuntary laughter. It occurs in response to non-specific stimuli. Fully referenced neurology checklist.
Clinical features
- This is involuntary laughter
- It occurs in response to non-specific stimuli
- There is no corresponding change in mood
Neoplastic causes
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Neurological causes
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Treatment
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References
- Wild B, Rodden FA, Grodd W, Ruch W. Neural correlates of laughter and humour. Brain 2003; 126:2121-2138.
- Famularo G, Corsi F, Minisola G, De Simone C, Nicotra GC. Cerebellar tumour presenting as pathological laughter and gelastic syncope. Eur J Neurol 2007; 14:940-943.
- Rodriguez Campello A, Padcual Calvet J, Pou Serradell A. Crazy laughter: first manifestation of a pontine tumour. Neurologia 2003; 18:225-228.
- Tsutsumi S, Hatashita S, Kadota Y, Abe K, Ueno H. Tentorial meningioma associated with pathological laughter-case report. Neurol Med Chir (Tokyo) 2000; 40:272-274.
- Ceccaldi M, Donnet A, Grisoli F, Poncet M. Prodromic fit of laughter and prerolandic tumour. Rev Neurol (Paris) 1995; 151:206-208.
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