This week I wanted to know if yawning is really "contagious". I am always yawning. I yawn when I wake up, when I'm studying and when I see someone else yawning.
Wikipedia defines yawning as a reflex of deep inhalation and exhalation. Yawning is associated with being tired, lack of stimulation, need of sleep. Yawning is a powerful non-verbal message with different meanings under different circumstances.
We know that yawning is inhaling and exhaling of oxygen. When we yawn it is a reflex to draw more oxygen to the bloodstream. This reflex is built into our physical body and we have no control over this. We cannot tell our body not to yawn and when to yawn, it just happens. Yawning is usually associated with the person being tired, but it is not always the reason. People yawn because of stress, boredom, emotions and being over-worked.
Have you noticed that when your in a classroom and someone yawns, you yawn too?? Why do we do that?
Researchers have found that to 40%-60% of people will yawn when they see a picture of someone yawning. People will even yawn when they read the words YAWN (which is happening to me right now...LOL)
No one really knows why yawning is "contagious". There has been suggestions though. It is said that yawning is a unconscious herding behavior (a subtle way to communicate in a group). Like when one bird rises, the whole flock of bird rises.... Maybe a yawn is to let the group know that the person is bored or tired.
Humans are not the only ones that yawn. Animals yawn too! I yawned soo much writing this blog... did you yawn reading it??? LOL...
Wikipedia defines yawning as a reflex of deep inhalation and exhalation. Yawning is associated with being tired, lack of stimulation, need of sleep. Yawning is a powerful non-verbal message with different meanings under different circumstances.
We know that yawning is inhaling and exhaling of oxygen. When we yawn it is a reflex to draw more oxygen to the bloodstream. This reflex is built into our physical body and we have no control over this. We cannot tell our body not to yawn and when to yawn, it just happens. Yawning is usually associated with the person being tired, but it is not always the reason. People yawn because of stress, boredom, emotions and being over-worked.
Have you noticed that when your in a classroom and someone yawns, you yawn too?? Why do we do that?
Researchers have found that to 40%-60% of people will yawn when they see a picture of someone yawning. People will even yawn when they read the words YAWN (which is happening to me right now...LOL)
No one really knows why yawning is "contagious". There has been suggestions though. It is said that yawning is a unconscious herding behavior (a subtle way to communicate in a group). Like when one bird rises, the whole flock of bird rises.... Maybe a yawn is to let the group know that the person is bored or tired.
Humans are not the only ones that yawn. Animals yawn too! I yawned soo much writing this blog... did you yawn reading it??? LOL...
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