My son is almost one and it makes him laugh really, we just make it a game though. We chase each other crawling playing hide and seek once the other person is in sight we scare and hide again.

I would say it is a phase she is going through and not anything to be worried about.  If you are trying to scare her, she is probably seeing it as a game.

I don't have any idea but I did some reading and cannot find any relation between them anywhere mentioned. So I think its just that you are a proud parent of a brave little girl!!!

Warm regards!!!