Iclandic Horses and Genetics

Are “Genetics” the reason Iceland carefully manages their Icelandic Horses differently from other countries? I do not breed horses so am unfamiliar with policies of different countries. When in Iceland however, I was told that the Icelandic horse breed was developed in Iceland. The horses are not huge, sometimes the size of a pony, but they are beautiful with long manes. They have two gaits in addition to the typical walk, trot, and canter/gallop commonly displayed by other breeds. These horses are said to be long-lived and hardy. In Iceland these Icelandic horses are plagued with very few diseases. I also learned that Iceland has a law that prevents horses from being imported into the country. In addition, if someone exports an Icelandic horse to another country, the animal is not permitted to return to Iceland. The only breed of horse in Iceland, these horses are also popular internationally. Apparently, sizable populations exist in Europe and North America. The breed is still used for traditional sheepherding work in Iceland, as well as for leisure, showing, and racing.

Genes Impacts

I read that in Iceland two people must have permission from the government in order to marry. What are we coming to? When I was speaking in Iceland⸺wonderful country, and I have loved my visits there!⸺I was told was told that because it is a relatively small and isolated country, and there have been relatively few intermarriages with people from other countries, a couple does need to notify the Government of their wish to marry. Iceland will then trace their genealogy and tell them if they are “too closely related” to have a wise marriage. If individuals have a similar genome that contains mutations, one gene might not cause any disease or malformations. However, when combined with another similar gene, the risk does increase. If individuals were guaranteed protection from procreation, it wouldn’t matter who they married and what genes they carried. The issue comes when no one knows for sure how combining genes from two individuals will impact their offspring.

Birth Order and Laughter

Some studies have shown that only or eldest children tend to laugh less than others. No doubt that is related, at least in part, to the fact that parents tend to practice on only or eldest children; and tend to lighten up on succeeding children if there is more than one. In multiple sibling families, it tends to be the youngest child who laughs the most, and the oldest who laughs the least. Some studies have shown that if there are five or more years between children, each will carry some characteristics of an eldest or only child—in addition to characteristics related to a middle child or the youngest child. Think back to your childhood. Who laughed in your family? Was laughter encouraged? In one of my presentations and elderly gentleman spoke up and said he had absolutely nothing to laugh about. I admittedly took a risk when I suggested he go home, take all his clothes off, and try to identify which body part needed to be ironed first. People started laughing just at the thought and soon the whole room followed suit. Fortunately, so did he. “I just might try that,” he said between guffaws. Do whatever it takes. Choose to laugh. It matters.

Choose to Laugh

You rarely laugh because there is nothing to laugh about? Laughter is a choice. I hear people say, "Oh, my, that was really funny wasn't it!" but they aren't choosing to laugh about it and the benefits to brain and body come more with laughter than simply the recognition that something was funny. I find humor in almost everything. Perhaps you might want to take a laugh class or evaluate the level to which you have developed your sense of humor. If you can laugh at yourself and the vagaries of life, you carry with you an unending supply of triggers for laughter. When I was working as Compliance Officer and Risk Manager for a large healthcare system, if I needed a chuckle all I had to do was stop and read a chart or two. For example, one entry read: “Large brown stool ambulating in the hall.” I burst out laughing thinking, what that a large brown stool on which people can sit or was it a large brown stool that was related to GI evacuation? A few moments of belly laughter can change one’s neurochemistry for several hours.

Response to Positives

Researchers used a fMRI scanner to measure responses to various types of sounds in the brains of study participants. They played positive sounds such as laughter or triumphant shouting; they played negative sounds like screaming or throwing up or groaning. All the sounds triggered a response in the premotor cortical region of the brain. This part of the brain prepares facial muscles to respond to sounds. The response to positive sounds, especially laughter, was greater than the response to negative sounds, suggesting that the positive sounds were more contagious than negative ones. This may be one reason humans tend to respond to laughter or cheering or even smiles with an involuntary smile. It also may be the science behind using “laugh tracks” with sitcoms or other programs.

Smiles vs Frowns

Studie

have shown that it requires 15 different facial muscles contracting in a specific pattern to laugh. However, it takes 26 muscles to arrange the face in a frown—nearly twice as many muscles. Muscles use energy to do what they do. It’s difficult for me to understand the reason someone would choose to go to the extra work of frowning, when the energy could be used for something more beneficial. Dr. Norman Cousins in his book Anatomy of an Illness pointed out that laugher can promote  more comfortable sleep. In his case, ten minutes of belly laughter gave him two hours of pain-free sleep, something that even morphine had failed to do.

Laughter Contagion

Laughter does seem to be contagious. There may be several contributors. Research from Finland's Aalto University and Turku PET Centre research published in the Proceedings of The National Academy of Sciences found that strong emotions synchronize the brain activity of different individuals. Mirthful laughter, part of the emotion of joy, can be very strong. Seeing smiles and laughter in someone else often triggers a corresponding emotional response in the watcher. Studies have identified mirror neurons behind the forehead that fire or activate when they see behaviors in others and respond as if you were doing the same thing. The ancient proverb appears to be cored: Laugh and the world laughs with you. More tomorrow.