The human body is full of mysteries. We often find ourselves questioning various reflexes. For instance, why do our eyes twitch? Why do we get a brain freeze? And why do we have hiccups? But among them all, the most interesting is yawning. Why? Because it is weirdly contagious. You may have often found yourself yawning after seeing someone else do the same. In this article, we try to find out why it happens and what science says about it.
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Why Do We Yawn?
The exact reason behind why we yawn is unknown, but there are a few leading theories.
One theory suggests that yawning helps wake us up by bringing more oxygen to the brain. The deep inhale is said to bring in fresh air, while the stretch increases blood flow to the head.
However, this theory was refuted in 1987 when researchers found no relation between lack of oxygen or too much carbon dioxide in the blood and yawning frequency or duration.
The study noted that yawning isn't directly linked to our basic breathing needs and is likely controlled by a different system in the body.
Another theory is that yawning promotes alertness and arousal. It might be a way to wake ourselves up or become more attentive. In fact, a review article published in the International Journal of Applied and Basic Medical Research reported that yawning increased heart rate and skin conductivity, similar to the effects of caffeine.
This suggests that, as opposed to the common belief, yawning might not be a sign of drowsiness but rather a way to become more alert.
Why Do We Yawn When We See Others Yawn?
Yawning is a reflex that has no definite cause. Sometimes, it just occurs when we see other people yawning, and this has intrigued a lot of people.
Research suggests empathy is the most probable reason behind it.
According to a 2015 study published in Personality and Individual Differences, researchers found that people with psychopathic traits tend to be less empathetic and more impulsive.
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When they showed videos of people yawning to students and measured how likely they were to yawn back, it was found that people who scored higher on a test of psychopathy were less likely to yawn when they saw others yawning.
The same was previously witnessed among a group of chimpanzees involved in a 2011 PLOS One study.
The researchers showed chimps videos of familiar chimps yawning, unfamiliar chimps yawning, and unfamiliar chimps not yawning.
It was found that chimpanzees yawned more when they watched chimpanzees they were familiar with. This aligns with the idea that contagious yawning is linked to empathy and that empathy extends to our closest primate relatives.
However, more research is needed to confirm the exact cause of contagious yawning.
Conclusion
Yawning is a common reflex and is usually harmless. It is also contagious, meaning watching someone yawn can get you to yawn too. While it's unclear why exactly that happens, there are several possible theories behind it. Research suggests that contagious yawning is a sign of an empathetic personality, and it may be more common among people who are familiar with each other.