Yawning is contagious. Everyone knows that. And so it’s quite possible that reading this blog article will be accompanied by a yawn or two. Because yawning is not only contagious when you watch someone yawn. The mere thought of it can also trigger it. But why is that? And why do we yawn at all? And is constant yawning a cause for concern? We address all these questions in this article, which centres on the phenomenon of yawning.
Why do we yawn?
Researchers have not yet been able to provide a clear answer to this question. There are several theories about the possible causes of yawning. From tiredness to lack of oxygen, from boredom and stress to cooling the brain, there are many possible reasons why we yawn. Many of these theories have been disproved over time, while others have been confirmed, but without being able to conclusively explain the actual meaning of yawning.
Yawning is contagious
According to researchers, the contagious effect of yawning is based on empathy and empathy. However, the exact causes – including at a neuronal level – are still unclear. What is certain, however, is that yawning is also contagious across species. Anyone who owns a pet, such as a dog, is sure to have experienced that their owner will start yawning after a yawn.
What happens when you yawn?
The yawning process is actually always the same. The dog breathes in deeply, opens its mouth and then breathes out for a long time while closing its mouth again. Yawning is often linked to stretching the limbs – especially in the morning after getting up. As we have already learnt, it is not only us humans who yawn, but also animals. However, yawning in animals is often linked to certain expressive behaviour. For example, yawning in dogs can be a gesture of appeasement or insecurity, whereas in some monkeys it can be threatening. Some penguin species yawn to greet each other.
What is the significance of yawning?
The theory that yawning is a sign of tiredness has been partially confirmed in studies. People like to yawn frequently in the evening before going to bed and in the morning after waking up. However, tiredness cannot be regarded as the sole cause. Another popular theory is that we yawn because our brain may be exposed to a lack of oxygen. However, researchers have been able to disprove this.
Boredom, on the other hand, can certainly be a reason for frequent yawning. Although yawning does not significantly and explicitly stimulate brain activity, it is assumed that the combination of yawning and stretching in particular promotes attention and therefore helps us to focus our minds. This would also explain why frequent yawning is observed during boredom and stress.
The question of whether the brain can be cooled by yawning and thus counteract the threat of overheating has been confirmed in laboratory experiments with rats. Corresponding studies with humans showed a reduced need to yawn when watching video recordings of yawning subjects as soon as a cool cloth or a bag of ice cubes was held to the forehead of the respective test subjects. However, this theory cannot serve as the sole explanation for the phenomenon of yawning.
Yawning as a symptom of illness
Even if yawning is contagious, it is not usually a cause for concern. This is because it is only rarely a symptom of illness. There are a few illnesses that are associated with yawning. And taking certain medications such as antidepressants, antiarrhythmics or benzodiazepines can also increase the frequency of yawning. As a rule, however, yawning is completely harmless and can be inappropriate if practised at the wrong time.
