Have you ever found yourself yawning just because someone nearby did? Even when you're not sleepy, seeing someone else yawn often makes you do the same. But why exactly do we yawn, and how can yawning be so "contagious"? Check out the review in the following article.

What causes yawning?

Yawning is a natural response in the human body. Everyone yawns, even fetuses in the womb. Although yawning is often linked to feeling tired or sleepy, the exact reasons behind it are still unclear. Experts believe yawning serves several important functions in the body.

Here are some theories that explain the causes of yawning:

Changes in awareness

Yawning is generally seen as a sign of sleepiness or boredom, but it's not always so straightforward. It may also signal a shift in your state of awareness. For example:

• Before sleep: Yawning might indicate that your body is getting ready to rest
• When bored: If you're yawning during a monotonous task, it could mean your brain is shifting from a high to a lower level of alertness
• After exercise: Yawning post-workout might suggest your brain is transitioning from high energy to a more relaxed state

Breathing function

Some experts think yawning happens when your body needs more oxygen. Yawning allows you to take in a larger amount of air, which increases your heart rate and helps pump more blood throughout your body.

Cooling down the brain

Yawning might also help cool your brain. When you yawn, your jaw stretches, which increases blood flow to your face and neck. The deep breath and quickened heart rate that come with yawning can circulate blood and cerebrospinal fluid faster, potentially cooling down an overheated brain.

Forms of communication

Yawning might have been a way for early humans to communicate. It could signal tiredness, boredom, or alertness to others. When early humans yawned, they might also have shown their teeth to potential threats, using yawning as a non-verbal form of communication

Why is yawning contagious?

Yawning is a difficult reflex to control. Most people yawn when they see another person yawn. Surprisingly, even reading about yawning, watching a video of someone yawning, or imagining a yawn can elicit the reflex.

Researchers discovered that contagious yawning is linked to empathy and emotional connections. According to a study published in Personality and Individual Differences, people who are more empathetic are more likely to yawn when they notice others yawning.

However, not everyone will notice a yawn when others do. If a person does not yawn in response, it does not imply that they lack empathy or have psychological problems. More research is required to fully understand this behavior.

Is excessive yawning a concern?

Yawning is usually harmless, but it can occur excessively, even when you are not tired or sleepy. If you find yourself yawning excessively, it could be the result of an underlying medical condition such as a neurological disorder, a heart condition, or a blood vessel problem. If this is the case, you should consult a doctor.

If you need medical advice or consultation, you can either visit a doctor or make use of the consultation features that are available in the Ai Care application by downloading the Ai Care application from the App Store or Play Store.

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