Women prefer to date men with a sense of humour due to evolutionary differences hardwired into the female brain, a new study has found.
Researchers from the Stanford University School of Medicine found that women's brains show greater activity than men's in response to humour.
It is believed women use a man's ability to make them laugh as a way to judge his genetic fitness as a suitable partner and potential father, the 'Daily Express' reported.
The study scanned the brains of 22 girls and boys, aged from six to 13 as they viewed funny videos.
During funny clips, girls' brains showed more heightened activity than the boys, the study found.
Researchers said their findings suggest selecting a mate by responding to humour is more effective in women "because the female brain, and particularly the reward circuit, is biologically better prepared to respond accordingly."
The research was published in the journal Social Neuroscience.
