What happens in the vocal cords during laughter?

It is not just what happens to the vocal cords but also what happens to the rest of the vocal tract. The vocal cords continue to serve their function as a variable frequency impulse generator although the frequency may go up and vary differently during laughter. read more

The vocal cords would not interfere with eating and swallowing food. In this image you can see the vocal cords as being “out of the way of food” and being protected by the epiglottis. The food goes behind, towards the right side in the picture, through the esophagus. read more