Why yawning happens

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Mark A. W. Andrews, associate professor of physiology and director of the Independent Study program at the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, provides the following explanation. Although not fully understood, yawning appears to be not only a sign of tiredness but also a much more general sign of changing conditions within the body. Studies have shown that we yawn when we are fatigued, as well as when we are awakening, and during other times when the state of alertness is changing. You are correct in thinking that yawns are catching. Seeing, hearing or thinking about yawning can trigger the event, but there is little understanding of why it is contagious. A number of theories regarding the genesis of yawning have been presented over the years. Some evidence suggests that yawning is a means of communicating changing environmental or internal body conditions to others. If so, then its contagious nature is most likely a means of communication within groups of animals, possibly as a means to synchronize behavior. If this is the case, yawning in humans is most likely vestigial and an evolutionarily ancient mechanism that has lost its significance. Yawning is a stereotypical reflex characterized by a single deep inhalation (with the mouth open) and stretching of muscles of the jaw and trunk. It occurs in many animals, including humans, and involves interactions between the unconscious brain and the body, though the mechanism remains unclear. As for the etiology of yawning...

Even thinking about yawning can cause you to do it. It’s something everybody does, including animals, and you shouldn’t try to stifle it because when you yawn, it’s because your body needs it. It’s one of the most contagious, uncontrollable actions a body does. There are many theories as to why people yawn. One popular theory is that yawning helps your body bring in more oxygen. But this theory has been mostly debunked. Keep reading to see what current research suggests yawning says about you, your brain temperature, and your potential for empathy. You yawn when you’re because tired your brain is slowing down, causing its temperature to drop bored your brain isn’t feeling stimulated and starts to slow down, causing a temperature drop seeing someone else yawn when you’re in the same environment as them, you’re exposed to the same temperature Another reason you may yawn is because the body wants to wake itself up. The motion helps stretch the lungs and their tissues, and it allows the body to flex its muscles and joints. It may also force blood toward your face and brain to increase alertness. If you did catch a yawn, then according to a The study, published in the journal Personality and Individual Differences, looked at 135 college students, their personalities, and how they reacted to different facial movements. The results showed that the less empathy a person had, the less likely they would yawn after seeing someone else yawn. It’s important to note that these results c...

Everybody yawns National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source , including adults, babies, and even animals National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source . Scientists have proposed several hypotheses for what exactly causes this phenomenon. Most people associate yawning with being tired or bored National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source . Studies of other mammals, such as sea lions National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source , have shown that they also yawn more frequently when they are resting or sleepy. Recent research suggests yawning may serve important physiological or social functions beyond simply showing that we are tired. Why Do We Yawn? Scientists have yet to reach a consensus on why we yawn. Some scientists argue that yawning serves a physiological function, such as helping the brain wake up or cool down. Others argue that yawning serves a psychosocial func...

Many animals yawn but we are not entirely sure why. Perhaps it makes us more alert, reduces anxiety, or cools an overheating brain. Contagious yawning is even more mysterious but seems to be confined to highly social animals, which might provide a clue to its purpose. What is yawning? Yawning is an evolutionarily ancient reflex that we share with lots of animals – not just mammals but also birds, reptiles and fish. Humans begin This indicates that there are two types of yawning – spontaneous and contagious – each requiring a separate explanation. Although we have some promising ideas, yawning is still something of a puzzle. We tend to think of yawning as a sign of being tired or bored. That probably explains the popular perception that it is a way to get more oxygen into the blood to increase alertness. However, when psychologist Robert Provine at the University of Maryland, tested this idea he found A closer look at when people yawn suggests another explanation. It turns out that most spontaneous yawning actually happens when we are limbering up for activity such as a workout, performance or exam, or simply when we wake up. That has led to the idea that yawning helps us gear up by increasing blood flow to the brain. How exactly that might work is not clear, but it does fit with the observation that Another possibility is that yawning cools the brain. This idea emerged from the observation that people yawned far less when Why is yawning contagious? Explaining contagious ya...

Share on Pinterest Yawning is a bodily response to tiredness. Yawning is usually a bodily response to Excessive, very frequent yawning can signal extended periods of tiredness, such as that which occurs in Depending on the cause, excessive yawning may occur alongside other symptoms, such as feeling very tired, having difficulty concentrating, or experiencing breathing difficulties. The following factors can cause excessive yawning: Sleep problems A common reason for excessive yawning is tiredness or fatigue. If people are having difficulty getting enough sleep, they may find themselves yawning a lot more than usual. If people experience constant fatigue or sleepiness during the day, or if they have a sleep disorder, they should see their doctor for advice. A person may not realize that they have sleep problems. For example, a person who has Other symptoms that suggest a sleep problem may be causing excessive yawning can include: • difficulty concentrating • slower reflexes or responses • feeling irritable • feeling unmotivated • weak or aching muscles Anxiety If a person experiences a lot of anxiety, they may find themselves yawning more often than other people, or more often than when they are not feeling as anxious. Anxiety-related yawning often gets worse when a person feels more anxious, but it can also arise with no obvious trigger. Medications People may experience excessive yawning if they take certain medications. Fatigue or drowsiness is a common side effect of ma...