Yawning is one of the most mysterious and universal behaviors in the animal kingdom, yet scientists still debate its exact purpose. Traditionally, people associate yawning with tiredness, boredom, or for those scientific thinkers, even a lack of oxygen, but research suggests a deeper, more complex explanation. So, why do we yawn?
One of the most compelling theories is that yawning helps regulate brain temperature. Studies show that when we yawn, we take in a deep breath of cool air while simultaneously increasing blood flow to the brain, which helps dissipate excess heat. Yes, the air that goes in your mouth cools your brain so next time you feel like giving a mouthful to someone, take a deep breath and cool your brain. Anyway, this process may keep the brain functioning optimally, especially when transitioning between wakefulness and sleep or during moments of mental fatigue. Now, there is another elephant in the room. If you’ve ever yawned in front of somebody, there’s a good chance they yawned right after. So, why is yawning so contagious?
Neuroscientists link this to empathy and social bonding. Mirror neurons in the brain, which help us understand and imitate others’ actions, may play a key role in contagious yawning. Mirror neurons are basically a set of neurons that send impulses when it observes others doing a certain act. Scientists believe there is a specific set of motor mirror neurons that activate when observing a person yawning. Studies have found that people are more likely to “catch” a yawn from close friends and family than from strangers, suggesting that contagious yawning strengthens social connections. Interestingly, certain neurological conditions, such as autism or schizophrenia, are associated with reduced contagious yawning, further supporting the idea that it is linked to social and emotional processing.
It’s crazy to see how a simple thing like yawning could have such deep reasoning and unbelievable explanations, isn’t it?
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