[Applause] [Laughter]
so we just shared a moment of
so we just shared a moment of spontaneous laughter so what while you
spontaneous laughter so what while you
spontaneous laughter so what while you were laughing your whole brain was
were laughing your whole brain was
were laughing your whole brain was engaged humor generated a cascade of
engaged humor generated a cascade of
engaged humor generated a cascade of neurotransmitters which engaged your
neurotransmitters which engaged your
neurotransmitters which engaged your prefrontal cortex which processes wit
prefrontal cortex which processes wit
prefrontal cortex which processes wit the limbic system which evokes mirth the
the limbic system which evokes mirth the
the limbic system which evokes mirth the occipital lobe which generates laughter
occipital lobe which generates laughter
occipital lobe which generates laughter so what humor is more than just
so what humor is more than just
so what humor is more than just entertainment it’s so much more powerful
entertainment it’s so much more powerful
entertainment it’s so much more powerful than that the benefits of humor are
than that the benefits of humor are
than that the benefits of humor are physiological psychological social and
physiological psychological social and
physiological psychological social and spiritual humor has the power to heal
spiritual humor has the power to heal
spiritual humor has the power to heal influence connect and enlighten humor is
influence connect and enlighten humor is
influence connect and enlighten humor is power my friend dr. Lee Burke is a
power my friend dr. Lee Burke is a
power my friend dr. Lee Burke is a leading psychoneuroimmunology who
leading psychoneuroimmunology who
leading psychoneuroimmunology who studies humor in the brain he says if we
studies humor in the brain he says if we
studies humor in the brain he says if we took what we now know about laughter and
took what we now know about laughter and
took what we now know about laughter and bottled it it would require FDA approval
bottled it it would require FDA approval
bottled it it would require FDA approval while you were laughing there was so
while you were laughing there was so
while you were laughing there was so much more going on than what you
much more going on than what you
much more going on than what you probably realize you are literally
probably realize you are literally
probably realize you are literally healthier than you were when I first
healthier than you were when I first
healthier than you were when I first walked on the stage if we had you wired
walked on the stage if we had you wired
walked on the stage if we had you wired for brain activity we’d see a flood of
for brain activity we’d see a flood of
for brain activity we’d see a flood of gamma waves more on that later if we had
gamma waves more on that later if we had
gamma waves more on that later if we had you wired for physiological activity we
you wired for physiological activity we
you wired for physiological activity we would see
would see
would see a drop in cortisol a drop in your blood
a drop in cortisol a drop in your blood
a drop in cortisol a drop in your blood pressure a drop in your muscle tension
pressure a drop in your muscle tension
pressure a drop in your muscle tension if psychologically you experienced
if psychologically you experienced
if psychologically you experienced positive and uplifting emotions even
positive and uplifting emotions even
positive and uplifting emotions even though you didn’t know why you were
though you didn’t know why you were
though you didn’t know why you were laughing and socially you bonded with
laughing and socially you bonded with
laughing and socially you bonded with everyone in the room through a shared
everyone in the room through a shared
everyone in the room through a shared emotional experience so what do you know
emotional experience so what do you know
emotional experience so what do you know anyone who suffers from heart disease
anyone who suffers from heart disease
anyone who suffers from heart disease from diabetes from memory problems from
from diabetes from memory problems from
from diabetes from memory problems from depression from memory problems from
depression from memory problems from
depression from memory problems from stress from memory problems these
stress from memory problems these
stress from memory problems these conditions are no joke but they may be a
conditions are no joke but they may be a
conditions are no joke but they may be a laughing matter
laughing matter
laughing matter why because humor is power now you’ve
why because humor is power now you’ve
why because humor is power now you’ve also heard that knowledge is power not
also heard that knowledge is power not
also heard that knowledge is power not quite it’s the application of knowledge
quite it’s the application of knowledge
quite it’s the application of knowledge that’s power I’m a nurse I know how to
that’s power I’m a nurse I know how to
that’s power I’m a nurse I know how to perform CPR but if I see you clutch your
perform CPR but if I see you clutch your
perform CPR but if I see you clutch your chest and collapse to the ground it’s
chest and collapse to the ground it’s
chest and collapse to the ground it’s not going to help you if I hover over
not going to help you if I hover over
not going to help you if I hover over you going I know how to perform CPR no
you going I know how to perform CPR no
you going I know how to perform CPR no it’s not in the knowledge it’s in the
it’s not in the knowledge it’s in the
it’s not in the knowledge it’s in the application of the knowledge so I don’t
application of the knowledge so I don’t
application of the knowledge so I don’t want you to be satisfied when you leave
want you to be satisfied when you leave
want you to be satisfied when you leave here today knowing that humor is good
here today knowing that humor is good
here today knowing that humor is good for you I want you to grasp the power
for you I want you to grasp the power
for you I want you to grasp the power that you have at your very fingertips
that you have at your very fingertips
that you have at your very fingertips but you haven’t taken advantage of and I
but you haven’t taken advantage of and I
but you haven’t taken advantage of and I want to inspire you to take action I’m a
want to inspire you to take action I’m a
want to inspire you to take action I’m a neuro humorist I know what you’re
neuro humorist I know what you’re
neuro humorist I know what you’re thinking
thinking
thinking another neuro humorist
another neuro humorist
another neuro humorist for 25 years I’ve lived at the
for 25 years I’ve lived at the
for 25 years I’ve lived at the intersection of humor and the brain for
intersection of humor and the brain for
intersection of humor and the brain for my master’s thesis
my master’s thesis
my master’s thesis I studied the effects of humor on health
I studied the effects of humor on health
I studied the effects of humor on health and communication when I was first asked
and communication when I was first asked
and communication when I was first asked to share my findings I was thrilled
to share my findings I was thrilled
to share my findings I was thrilled starting with my fellow academics my
starting with my fellow academics my
starting with my fellow academics my very first presentation I dove into my
very first presentation I dove into my
very first presentation I dove into my research methodology I excitedly
research methodology I excitedly
research methodology I excitedly explained the significance of the
explained the significance of the
explained the significance of the p-value of less than 0.05 and I
p-value of less than 0.05 and I
p-value of less than 0.05 and I discovered that people thought I was
discovered that people thought I was
discovered that people thought I was funny
funny
funny who knew from there I went on to share
who knew from there I went on to share
who knew from there I went on to share my findings with local groups and
my findings with local groups and
my findings with local groups and companies and then national groups and
companies and then national groups and
companies and then national groups and companies and then international groups
companies and then international groups
companies and then international groups and companies I’d stumbled backwards
and companies I’d stumbled backwards
and companies I’d stumbled backwards into my calling we’re just now beginning
into my calling we’re just now beginning
into my calling we’re just now beginning to grasp the power of the giggle the
to grasp the power of the giggle the
to grasp the power of the giggle the chortle the belly laugh but it’s taken
chortle the belly laugh but it’s taken
chortle the belly laugh but it’s taken eons to emerge for people to recognize
eons to emerge for people to recognize
eons to emerge for people to recognize the intentional humor has real power in
the intentional humor has real power in
the intentional humor has real power in the real world let me give you some
the real world let me give you some
the real world let me give you some context by giving you a brief history of
context by giving you a brief history of
context by giving you a brief history of humor or a countdown 10 200,000 BC of
humor or a countdown 10 200,000 BC of
humor or a countdown 10 200,000 BC of drops a rock on ooks foot everyone
drops a rock on ooks foot everyone
drops a rock on ooks foot everyone laughs 9 the ancient Greeks believed
laughs 9 the ancient Greeks believed
laughs 9 the ancient Greeks believed that health was a balance of four body
that health was a balance of four body
that health was a balance of four body fluids they called humors eight proverbs
fluids they called humors eight proverbs
fluids they called humors eight proverbs 17:22
17:22
17:22 a merry heart doeth good like a medicine
a merry heart doeth good like a medicine
a merry heart doeth good like a medicine seven ninth century The Laughing Buddha
seven ninth century The Laughing Buddha
seven ninth century The Laughing Buddha appears six the dark ages okay no humor
appears six the dark ages okay no humor
appears six the dark ages okay no humor there
there
there five the Reformation court jesters
five the Reformation court jesters
five the Reformation court jesters through humour tell truths that no one
through humour tell truths that no one
through humour tell truths that no one else dare speak for early 20th century
else dare speak for early 20th century
else dare speak for early 20th century Sigmund Freud publishes jokes and their
Sigmund Freud publishes jokes and their
Sigmund Freud publishes jokes and their relation to the unconscious and also has
relation to the unconscious and also has
relation to the unconscious and also has the insight sometimes a cigar is just a
the insight sometimes a cigar is just a
the insight sometimes a cigar is just a cigar three 1970s Norman Cousins cures
cigar three 1970s Norman Cousins cures
cigar three 1970s Norman Cousins cures himself of ankylosing spondylitis by
himself of ankylosing spondylitis by
himself of ankylosing spondylitis by watching comedy films and candid camera
watching comedy films and candid camera
watching comedy films and candid camera and goes on to write the classic anatomy
and goes on to write the classic anatomy
and goes on to write the classic anatomy of an illness to 1970s 1970s it was
of an illness to 1970s 1970s it was
of an illness to 1970s 1970s it was patch Adams who broke ranks with his
patch Adams who broke ranks with his
patch Adams who broke ranks with his fellow doctors by using intentional
fellow doctors by using intentional
fellow doctors by using intentional humor as a healing modality in hospitals
humor as a healing modality in hospitals
humor as a healing modality in hospitals one today science proves the power of
one today science proves the power of
one today science proves the power of humor to change humans at the cellular
humor to change humans at the cellular
humor to change humans at the cellular level zero liftoff in your lifetime you
level zero liftoff in your lifetime you
level zero liftoff in your lifetime you will experience the power of humor as it
will experience the power of humor as it
will experience the power of humor as it heals disease shapes society and helps
heals disease shapes society and helps
heals disease shapes society and helps save the world save the world she say
save the world save the world she say
save the world save the world she say yes it’s already happened once October
yes it’s already happened once October
yes it’s already happened once October 1962 the Cuban Missile Crisis is
1962 the Cuban Missile Crisis is
1962 the Cuban Missile Crisis is careening forward the countdown to
careening forward the countdown to
careening forward the countdown to nuclear Armageddon is ticking toward
nuclear Armageddon is ticking toward
nuclear Armageddon is ticking toward zero for 13 days America and Russia
zero for 13 days America and Russia
zero for 13 days America and Russia rattled their nuclear sabers as a
rattled their nuclear sabers as a
rattled their nuclear sabers as a six-year-old girl I wasn’t afraid of the
six-year-old girl I wasn’t afraid of the
six-year-old girl I wasn’t afraid of the bomb I was afraid of the fear in my
bomb I was afraid of the fear in my
bomb I was afraid of the fear in my father’s face that’s what kept me awake
father’s face that’s what kept me awake
father’s face that’s what kept me awake at night negotiations between the two
at night negotiations between the two
at night negotiations between the two superpowers are deadlocked a handful of
superpowers are deadlocked a handful of
superpowers are deadlocked a handful of stone-faced men stare at each other
stone-faced men stare at each other
stone-faced men stare at each other across a mahogany boardroom table the
across a mahogany boardroom table the
across a mahogany boardroom table the tension is palpable as these men
tension is palpable as these men
tension is palpable as these men literally hold the fate of our world in
literally hold the fate of our world in
literally hold the fate of our world in their hands and then one of the Soviet
their hands and then one of the Soviet
their hands and then one of the Soviet delegates tells a joke
delegates tells a joke
delegates tells a joke tells a joke what is difference between
tells a joke what is difference between
tells a joke what is difference between capitalism and communism in capitalism
capitalism and communism in capitalism
capitalism and communism in capitalism men exploits men in communism is other
men exploits men in communism is other
men exploits men in communism is other way around
both sides laugh the tension breaks the
both sides laugh the tension breaks the talks resume and you know the rest they
talks resume and you know the rest they
talks resume and you know the rest they didn’t blow up the planet humor is power
didn’t blow up the planet humor is power
didn’t blow up the planet humor is power let’s shift our perspective from the
let’s shift our perspective from the
let’s shift our perspective from the global or macro level to the micro or
global or macro level to the micro or
global or macro level to the micro or cellular level science now shows the
cellular level science now shows the
cellular level science now shows the power of humor to change human beings at
power of humor to change human beings at
power of humor to change human beings at the cellular level researchers have
the cellular level researchers have
the cellular level researchers have discovered positive changes in the
discovered positive changes in the
discovered positive changes in the epithelial lining of blood vessels in
epithelial lining of blood vessels in
epithelial lining of blood vessels in levels of cortisol in the immune system
levels of cortisol in the immune system
levels of cortisol in the immune system this is great news for people with
this is great news for people with
this is great news for people with diabetes heart disease autoimmune
diabetes heart disease autoimmune
diabetes heart disease autoimmune disorders fertility problems dementia
disorders fertility problems dementia
disorders fertility problems dementia depression but wait there’s more recent
depression but wait there’s more recent
depression but wait there’s more recent research shows the power of humor goes
research shows the power of humor goes
research shows the power of humor goes beyond the cellular level studies
beyond the cellular level studies
beyond the cellular level studies conducted on people with diabetes showed
conducted on people with diabetes showed
conducted on people with diabetes showed that pro-r in and dropped sharply after
that pro-r in and dropped sharply after
that pro-r in and dropped sharply after they watched funny films and even bigger
they watched funny films and even bigger
they watched funny films and even bigger news published in the journal Life
news published in the journal Life
news published in the journal Life Sciences
Sciences
Sciences laughter normalize the expression of the
laughter normalize the expression of the
laughter normalize the expression of the pro Renan receptor gene thus
pro Renan receptor gene thus
pro Renan receptor gene thus demonstrating the inhibitory effect of
demonstrating the inhibitory effect of
demonstrating the inhibitory effect of laughter at the onset deterioration of
laughter at the onset deterioration of
laughter at the onset deterioration of diabetic complications at the gene
diabetic complications at the gene
diabetic complications at the gene expression level say what in layman’s
expression level say what in layman’s
expression level say what in layman’s terms humor has the power to change your
terms humor has the power to change your
terms humor has the power to change your very DNA you could be passing along
very DNA you could be passing along
very DNA you could be passing along healthier genes to your children
healthier genes to your children
healthier genes to your children epigenetics this is your future and the
epigenetics this is your future and the
epigenetics this is your future and the better it gets the better it gets for
better it gets the better it gets for
better it gets the better it gets for the last 30 years neuroscientists have
the last 30 years neuroscientists have
the last 30 years neuroscientists have uncovered bit by bit the secrets behind
uncovered bit by bit the secrets behind
uncovered bit by bit the secrets behind brainwaves how Alpha Beta Delta and
brainwaves how Alpha Beta Delta and
brainwaves how Alpha Beta Delta and theta waves are associated with varying
theta waves are associated with varying
theta waves are associated with varying degrees of consciousness but when they
degrees of consciousness but when they
degrees of consciousness but when they looked at the fifth kind of brainwave
looked at the fifth kind of brainwave
looked at the fifth kind of brainwave gamma waves the waves were so fine that
gamma waves the waves were so fine that
gamma waves the waves were so fine that at first researchers thought they were
at first researchers thought they were
at first researchers thought they were merely static but over the years
merely static but over the years
merely static but over the years technology improved and ten years ago
technology improved and ten years ago
technology improved and ten years ago researchers discovered that gamma waves
researchers discovered that gamma waves
researchers discovered that gamma waves were related to mental states achieved
were related to mental states achieved
were related to mental states achieved by deep meditation and mindfulness
by deep meditation and mindfulness
by deep meditation and mindfulness states like creativity focus and flow
states like creativity focus and flow
states like creativity focus and flow and then just recently dr. Lee Burke
and then just recently dr. Lee Burke
and then just recently dr. Lee Burke studied brain activity on people exposed
studied brain activity on people exposed
studied brain activity on people exposed to humor and discovers that mirthful
to humor and discovers that mirthful
to humor and discovers that mirthful humor generates gamma waves too so what
humor generates gamma waves too so what
humor generates gamma waves too so what could a better memory improve your
could a better memory improve your
could a better memory improve your grades would you like your lectures to
grades would you like your lectures to
grades would you like your lectures to have more impact would you be able to
have more impact would you be able to
have more impact would you be able to benefit for more productivity at work
benefit for more productivity at work
benefit for more productivity at work would you be able to benefit for more
would you be able to benefit for more
would you be able to benefit for more clarity in your thinking if you ever had
clarity in your thinking if you ever had
clarity in your thinking if you ever had to deal with an obstinate child have you
to deal with an obstinate child have you
to deal with an obstinate child have you ever had to overcome the overwhelming
ever had to overcome the overwhelming
ever had to overcome the overwhelming desire to choke the living daylights out
desire to choke the living daylights out
desire to choke the living daylights out of some idiot who desperately deserves
of some idiot who desperately deserves
of some idiot who desperately deserves it humor can help you survive and thrive
it humor can help you survive and thrive
it humor can help you survive and thrive in all of these situations you hold in
in all of these situations you hold in
in all of these situations you hold in your hands the power to change your
your hands the power to change your
your hands the power to change your world our world and more good news you
world our world and more good news you
world our world and more good news you don’t even have to be funny don’t get me
don’t even have to be funny don’t get me
don’t even have to be funny don’t get me wrong I think being funny is great how
wrong I think being funny is great how
wrong I think being funny is great how many of you in here think you’re funny
many of you in here think you’re funny
many of you in here think you’re funny I’m not going to look the person over
I’m not going to look the person over
I’m not going to look the person over here you have your hand raised and the
here you have your hand raised and the
here you have your hand raised and the person behind you is going no no I don’t
person behind you is going no no I don’t
person behind you is going no no I don’t think show of hands how many of you
think show of hands how many of you
think show of hands how many of you think you have a sense of humor yeah I
think you have a sense of humor yeah I
think you have a sense of humor yeah I would expect all hands to go up for no
would expect all hands to go up for no
would expect all hands to go up for no other reason it’s socially unacceptable
other reason it’s socially unacceptable
other reason it’s socially unacceptable to admit that you don’t have a sense of
to admit that you don’t have a sense of
to admit that you don’t have a sense of humor being funny
humor being funny
humor being funny performing generating laughter this is a
performing generating laughter this is a
performing generating laughter this is a great skill to have but it’s actually
great skill to have but it’s actually
great skill to have but it’s actually more important to see funny
more important to see funny
more important to see funny than it is to be funny if you practice
than it is to be funny if you practice
than it is to be funny if you practice the seeing funny the being funny will
the seeing funny the being funny will
the seeing funny the being funny will fall into place here’s one quick way and
fall into place here’s one quick way and
fall into place here’s one quick way and a shortcut to the power of humor raise
a shortcut to the power of humor raise
a shortcut to the power of humor raise your awareness ask yourself what’s funny
your awareness ask yourself what’s funny
your awareness ask yourself what’s funny around here
around here
around here what am I missing now some people whine
what am I missing now some people whine
what am I missing now some people whine but there’s nothing funny happening in
but there’s nothing funny happening in
but there’s nothing funny happening in my life and if that’s your belief that’s
my life and if that’s your belief that’s
my life and if that’s your belief that’s your reality but if you will
your reality but if you will
your reality but if you will intentionally raise your awareness and
intentionally raise your awareness and
intentionally raise your awareness and start listening for humor you’ll find it
start listening for humor you’ll find it
start listening for humor you’ll find it I once overheard a tourist in Miami
I once overheard a tourist in Miami
I once overheard a tourist in Miami asked a hotel clerk which Beach is
asked a hotel clerk which Beach is
asked a hotel clerk which Beach is closest to the water seriously you do
closest to the water seriously you do
closest to the water seriously you do not have to make this stuff up if you
not have to make this stuff up if you
not have to make this stuff up if you intentionally look for humor you’ll see
intentionally look for humor you’ll see
intentionally look for humor you’ll see funny things that other people miss at
funny things that other people miss at
funny things that other people miss at this gym members write up an escalator
this gym members write up an escalator
this gym members write up an escalator so they can workout on a Stairmaster not
so they can workout on a Stairmaster not
so they can workout on a Stairmaster not a bar in sight but absolutely no alcohol
a bar in sight but absolutely no alcohol
a bar in sight but absolutely no alcohol beyond this point so start chugging I
beyond this point so start chugging I
beyond this point so start chugging I don’t even know what this means
my interest in humor isn’t just
my interest in humor isn’t just professional it’s personal my son David
professional it’s personal my son David
professional it’s personal my son David was a full time student in college and a
was a full time student in college and a
was a full time student in college and a part-time bouncer in a bar makes a mom
part-time bouncer in a bar makes a mom
part-time bouncer in a bar makes a mom proud he and his best buddy at the bar
proud he and his best buddy at the bar
proud he and his best buddy at the bar were nicknamed Tonto and The Lone Ranger
were nicknamed Tonto and The Lone Ranger
were nicknamed Tonto and The Lone Ranger one morning David wakes up with a pain
one morning David wakes up with a pain
one morning David wakes up with a pain in his chest and long story short it’s a
in his chest and long story short it’s a
in his chest and long story short it’s a fist-sized cancerous tumor weeks of
fist-sized cancerous tumor weeks of
fist-sized cancerous tumor weeks of chemo turned into months he loses all
chemo turned into months he loses all
chemo turned into months he loses all his hair but not his spirit one day his
his hair but not his spirit one day his
his hair but not his spirit one day his buddies come by after hanging out at the
buddies come by after hanging out at the
buddies come by after hanging out at the bar they come over to hang out for a bit
bar they come over to hang out for a bit
bar they come over to hang out for a bit and I hear waves of laughter flood the
and I hear waves of laughter flood the
and I hear waves of laughter flood the house so I ask when they when they leave
house so I ask when they when they leave
house so I ask when they when they leave he’s just he’s smiling bigger than he
he’s just he’s smiling bigger than he
he’s just he’s smiling bigger than he had for months so I said what was all
had for months so I said what was all
had for months so I said what was all that about and he laughed and he said oh
that about and he laughed and he said oh
that about and he laughed and he said oh I’ve got a new nickname kemo sabe
laughter and humor empowered him and it
laughter and humor empowered him and it faded our fears and by the way David’s
faded our fears and by the way David’s
faded our fears and by the way David’s been cancer-free now for ten years I’m
been cancer-free now for ten years I’m
been cancer-free now for ten years I’m not saying that humor cured his cancer
not saying that humor cured his cancer
not saying that humor cured his cancer although scientific evidence is
although scientific evidence is
although scientific evidence is beginning to point in that direction
beginning to point in that direction
beginning to point in that direction however it’s an indisputable fact that
however it’s an indisputable fact that
however it’s an indisputable fact that during this devastating time humor
during this devastating time humor
during this devastating time humor helped him cope and it improved the
helped him cope and it improved the
helped him cope and it improved the quality of his life a hundred years
quality of his life a hundred years
quality of his life a hundred years before nuclear Armageddon was deflected
before nuclear Armageddon was deflected
before nuclear Armageddon was deflected by humor Mark Twain wrote the human race
by humor Mark Twain wrote the human race
by humor Mark Twain wrote the human race has but one really effective weapon and
has but one really effective weapon and
has but one really effective weapon and that’s laughter seventy years ago
that’s laughter seventy years ago
that’s laughter seventy years ago Holocaust survivor Victor Frankel said
Holocaust survivor Victor Frankel said
Holocaust survivor Victor Frankel said humor was another of the souls weapons
humor was another of the souls weapons
humor was another of the souls weapons in the fight for self-preservation
in the fight for self-preservation
in the fight for self-preservation science now proves that both of these
science now proves that both of these
science now proves that both of these statements are true humors not merely
statements are true humors not merely
statements are true humors not merely anecdotal it’s not wishful thinking it’s
anecdotal it’s not wishful thinking it’s
anecdotal it’s not wishful thinking it’s not just a dream it’s real do you
not just a dream it’s real do you
not just a dream it’s real do you remember that great quote by
remember that great quote by
remember that great quote by spider-man’s Uncle Ben Peter Parker’s
spider-man’s Uncle Ben Peter Parker’s
spider-man’s Uncle Ben Peter Parker’s Uncle Ben with great power comes great
Uncle Ben with great power comes great
Uncle Ben with great power comes great responsibility you now have a great
responsibility you now have a great
responsibility you now have a great responsibility because you now know how
responsibility because you now know how
responsibility because you now know how powerful humor is and to not act on this
powerful humor is and to not act on this
powerful humor is and to not act on this responsibility would be to deprive
responsibility would be to deprive
responsibility would be to deprive yourself and your families and all of
yourself and your families and all of
yourself and your families and all of humanity of the many benefits of humor
humanity of the many benefits of humor
humanity of the many benefits of humor it’s time we take humor seriously it’s
it’s time we take humor seriously it’s
it’s time we take humor seriously it’s time to take action because humor is
time to take action because humor is
time to take action because humor is power
”
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