Unraveling Yawns: The Surprising Contagiousness Explored
Cause behind the spread of yawning among people
Let's talk about yawning, that familiar stretching of the jaw, the intake of a deep breath, and the subsequent release of air through your mouth. It's as common as laughter, and it's freakin' contagious! When one person yawns, others soon follow. But why does this happen?
Christine Blume, a psychologist and sleep researcher, spills the beans to ntv.de, "Everybody knows yawning is contagious, but we don't know for sure why that is." Even the reason for yawning itself is still a topic of debate, according to Blume.
Yawns Decoded
A yawn is a reflexive behavior that involves a specific sequence: a deep breath accompanied by an extended mouth opening, followed by an exhalation, and sometimes supplemented by eye-squinting and tearing.
Theories regarding the biological function of yawning include improving oxygen supply to the brain or cooling it down. However, these theories aren't backed up by solid evidence, as yawning usually occurs less frequently during sports, when the brain needs more oxygen due to increased activity.
Other theories suggest yawning facilitates state transitions or is an evolutionary leftover, but these explanations aren't convincing either, states Blume.
The Yawning Tango
Distinguish between spontaneous yawning and contagious yawning, advises Blume. Spontaneous yawning is an innate behavior that occurs even in unborn babies, indicating a biological function. Contagious yawning, on the other hand, likely doesn't have a survival-critical role, otherwise it would have evolved earlier. Instead, it seems to be linked to social development. Contagious yawning typically doesn't start until around age five.
So, what's the social glue that makes yawning contagious? Research suggests there's a certain social component at play, as shown in studies where participants who watched yawning people in videos yawned more than those who viewed smiling faces. However, the exact reason isn't clear-cut.
One theory points towards mirror neurons, which enable us to empathize so deeply with our counterparts that we mimic their actions, including yawns. But recent findings cast doubt on the role of mirror neurons in contagious yawning. While they do help us recognize and mimic movements, their role in developing complex social processes remains unclear.
Empathy's Role in Yawning
Despite mixed results, contagious yawning is often associated with empathy. Empathetic individuals tend to be more susceptible to the yawning of others, while those exhibiting psychopathic behaviors show less susceptibility. However, drawing conclusions based on group results for individual cases isn't advisable.
As for finding out why yawning is contagious, Blume clarifies, "Research, including that on yawning, is driven by hypotheses. We're still at the point where various hypotheses are developed and then tested." As the mystery of contagious yawning unravels, we'll hopefully gain insight into its purpose and the factors that make it so fascinating.
Just remember, across species, from humans to chimpanzees (and even some fish), yawning is a universal language of rest. And even your furry companions, like dogs, can catch the human yawn – especially when it's from their favorite human.
[1] 'Contagious yawning as a test of empathy,' Stanford News, March 14, 2011. [2] 'The puzzle of contagious yawning,' The Guardian, November 5, 2014. [3] 'Inequality in contagious yawning: a study on intrasexual competition in chimpanzees,' Animal Cognition, 2006. [4] 'Contagious yawning in a group of chimpanzees,' Biology Letters, 2008.
- The confounding nature of yawning, a universal behavior observed across various species, has led researchers to explore its relationship with empathy, as empathetic individuals tend to be more susceptible to the yawns of others.
- As Blume, a sleep researcher, suggests, the science behind the contagious nature of yawning is still being explored, and it's currently a significant topic of debate in the research policy community.
