Some seemingly bizarre research into humour

http://facstaff.uww.edu/mohanp/twinhumor.html

There's mention of a twin study done using Far Side cartoons which so no genetic link.

"
Why The Far Side? 
                   One of the reasons Larson’s cartoons were chosen for the study is that they 
                   contain cognitive, or “off the wall,” humor. Spector explains, “Cognitive is the 
                   good sensation that comes over you when you get the joke.” Such a sensation 
                   comes from the sudden mental integration of incongruous ideas, attitudes or 
                   situations. 
                        Spector chose to use this kind of humor for the study because responses 
                   to it are variable. He says some people love The Far Side, for example, 
                   while others just don’t get it at all. Also, cognitive jokes make good test 
                   material because they’re generally not offensive. 
                        The three other defined humor types are not quite as sophisticated. 
                   “Conative” humor produces a smug feeling of superiority from other people’s 
                   misfortune, such as when we laugh at someone tripping on a banana peel. 
                   “Affective” humor involves racial or smutty jokes. “Orectic” humor combines 
                   the previously two mentioned types.
"

A bit like
What's black and white and goes boo?
A cow with a cold.

The last bit about brain damage making people prefer slapstick jokes is almost amusing in itself. I think there's a brilliant joke cognitive joke in there worthy of Andy Kaufman. Perhaps.