The humble dad joke, famous for inducing groans rather than laughs, may actually be doing something good for the brain, according to new research highlighted in The Washington Post and discussed on Fox News’ “The Five.”

During the lighthearted segment, hosts Dana Perino, Greg Gutfeld, Jesse Watters, and Jessica Tarlov swapped punny one-liners, driving home the idea that humor, even the corniest kind, can foster connection between fathers and children.

“My neighbor tiled my roof for free. He said it was on the house,” one panelist quipped, leading to both laughter and good-natured sighs across the studio.

Behind the laughter is a scientific reason to smile. Researchers say that simple puns and one-liners can set off a chain of positive biological responses that lower stress and enhance brain function.

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A study posted on PsyArXiv, an open-access psychology research platform, examined the inner mechanics of dad jokes. Psychologists Paul J. Silvia of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and Meriel I.

Burnett of the University of Massachusetts Amherst analyzed thousands of examples and found that dad humor thrives on puns and wordplay.

Unlike complex jokes that depend on timing or context, a dad joke about a “roof being on the house” only demands basic word recognition and a quick mental twist.

That simplicity, experts say, makes dad humor universally understandable and sharable, bridging generations through laughter.

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The physiological effects of laughter are no joke either.

It decreases stress hormones such as cortisol and epinephrine while boosting chemicals linked to happiness, including dopamine, serotonin, and endorphins.

A 2023 review published in PLOS One reported that just one laughter session could reduce cortisol by more than 36 percent, which in turn activates areas like the prefrontal cortex that support problem solving and creativity.

Studies also associate pun comprehension with improved verbal ability and enhanced creative connections between different ideas, suggesting that the quick thinking needed for humor exercises key areas of the brain.

Beyond the cognitive gains, laughter provides powerful social benefits. Scientists note that sharing a good laugh can raise oxytocin levels, a hormone that deepens emotional bonds between parents and children.

Jacqueline Harding, PhD, an early childhood expert at Middlesex University in London, told Fox News Digital that laughter reflects the mind’s growth in real time.

“When we see children laugh, we witness the brilliance of the brain in action: learning, connecting and growing,” she said.

Harding is the author of “The Brain That Loves to Laugh,” a book exploring how joy supports mental and emotional development.

In it, she describes joy as a biological phenomenon that helps children build resiliency and manage stress.

“Hope and humor, it seems, are not just the seasoning of life, but foundational to a recipe for healthy development,” Harding wrote.

The chemistry of shared laughter benefits the family as a whole. Experts explain that laughter promotes co-regulation, a process through which people manage stress collectively by recalling shared experiences of safety and joy.

“Spontaneous, joyful play is an antidote to stress, as it increases levels of endorphins released by the brain,” Harding said.

She added that “creative, happy play does its most brilliant work at a molecular level, especially at a time when the human brain is at its most receptive.”

For dads cracking corny jokes, these studies suggest there may be more behind the grin than meets the ear.

The next time a pun earns an eye roll at the dinner table, it could also be building stronger minds—and tighter family bonds.