Why Do We Yawn, and Is It Contagious?

Why do we yawn?

Have you ever wondered why you start yawing in the middle of work or while talking to someone? Also, why does watching someone yawn make you feel like you can't help but yawn, too?  Let’s find out!

Yawing is a reflex response observed in both humans and animals. It involves involuntarily opening one's jaw wide for deep inhalation, followed by deep exhalation of breath. Although the reason for yawning is still not very well understood, it is still a hot topic of study among scientists. 

People often associate yawning as a response to boredom and drowsiness. However, paradoxically, it is found in the studies that yawning can trigger the release of certain hormones, such as cortisol, that temporarily boost heart rate and enhance alertness.

Over the past few years, many theories have been circulated to explain the reason behind this reflex action, which has intrigued almost everyone. However, only a few theories have made their way to scientifically backed explanations. 

One such widely accepted theory says that yawning helps cool the brain when its over-stimulation results in mental exhaustion.  Another theory, though not widely acknowledged but seems logical, is that yawning is a process that increases the oxygen in the blood when your body needs it most and expels the accumulated carbon dioxide from the body. 

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Is yawning contagious?

Yes, yawning is contagious. In fact, it is so contagious that just writing about it is making me yawn incessantly. (I hope you are not yawning while reading this article.) However, to answer the supplementary question—why is it contagious? 

One reason for its contagious nature is social empathy. A study revealed that more empathetic individuals are more likely to experience yawning when they observe another person yawning.

 Another reason is that yawning is associated with mirror neurons in the brain. These neurons, as the name suggests, subconsciously pick the actions of others. So, if you see someone yawning, these neurons will mimic those actions, and before you know it, you will also be yawning.  🥱🥱

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