[2] However, death may result from several pathologies that deviate from benign laughter.
Infarction of the pons and the medulla oblongata in the brain may cause the pseudobulbar affect.
[3] Asphyxiation caused by laughter leads the body to shut down from the lack of oxygen.
Gelastic seizures can be due to focal lesions to the hypothalamus.
[8] Depending upon the size of the lesion, the emotional lability may be a sign of an acute condition, and not itself the cause of the fatality.