Buzz
Have you ever noticed that seeing someone else yawn can make you yawn too? While the science isn't fully settled, research suggests that this involuntary reaction is closely tied to our emotional connections. We spoke to a specialist to explore the psychological reasons behind this contagious reflex.
What makes yawning so puzzling is how simply observing someone yawn can cause you to do the same. Although the exact science is still inconclusive, there are numerous studies that help explain this instinctive response. We consulted an expert to delve into the psychology of why yawns spread so easily.
Why Do We Yawn?
Many people assume that yawning is a way for our bodies to take in more oxygen, a belief that was held until around 30 years ago. However, this idea was debunked through a set of experiments published in 1987, which demonstrated no link between oxygen levels and the urge to yawn. As Dr. Reyan Saghir, MBBS, BSc (Hons) explains, 'Yawning is an automatic action that involves opening the mouth wide, stretching the jaw, taking a deep breath, and exhaling slowly.' Despite being a common occurrence when we’re tired or bored, scientists still haven't fully cracked the mystery of why we yawn.
Definition
A yawn is a reflex action where one opens their mouth wide and inhales deeply, usually caused by feelings of tiredness or boredom.
One of the leading theories for why we yawn is that it serves to help us stay alert. 'As we grow weary, especially during monotonous or unstimulating activities like a lecture, our body triggers a yawn to help us wake up,' says Saghir. Research has confirmed this theory, showing that after yawning, an individual's heart rate rises and peaks for 10 to 15 seconds, providing a natural boost, much like the effect of caffeine.
Yawning has also been associated with brain cooling, which might explain why yawning becomes more frequent when temperatures rise. 'When the facial muscles relax, heat is released through the facial veins, and the cool air entering through the mouth helps reduce brain temperature by convection,' explains Saghir. Studies suggest that yawning happens when it's warm, but still cool enough that a deep breath can help lower body temperature.
Yawning can also be triggered by factors such as hunger, stress, changes in ear pressure, waking up, or even just by pretending to yawn.
Why Are Yawns Contagious?
Yawns can spread for a variety of reasons, though scientists are still exploring whether yawns are truly "contagious" in the way we think. Some studies suggest that you're six times more likely to yawn if you witness someone else do it. Here are some potential explanations for why yawns seem to spread among people.
You're yawning out of empathy.
Researchers believe empathy is the most likely cause behind contagious yawning. 'As we grow older, our psychological and neurological development makes us more likely to mirror others, including yawning when we see it happen,' says Saghir. This phenomenon, known as echophenomena, has been observed not only in humans but also in chimpanzees and dogs.
It's important to note that this reaction typically occurs only in fully developed brains. 'For mentally healthy adults, our social and emotional development triggers us to yawn when others do. However, in individuals with underdeveloped mental processes, contagious yawning doesn't occur,' says Saghir. 'For example, studies show that children who haven't yet developed the neural mechanisms for this phenomenon yawn due to tiredness, not in response to another yawn. Similarly, adults with conditions like autism or schizophrenia, where social development is affected, do not reciprocate yawns.'
Social mirroring could cause you to yawn.
Social mirroring differs slightly from empathy. In an empathetic response, you're yawning because you relate to how someone else is feeling (such as stress or fatigue). However, with social mirroring, you unconsciously imitate others in order to form stronger connections with them. Yawning is just one example of this behavior. In daily life, we're constantly and automatically mimicking other people's words (echolalia) and actions (echopraxia) to fit in, says Saghir.
It turns out that this behavior is completely natural—our brains are literally designed to mirror those around us. "Studies have shown that yawning activates 'mirror neurons' in the right posterior inferior frontal gyrus of the brain, which are triggered during goal-directed behaviors for genuine imitation, making the yawning reflex impossible to resist because our brains are wired to replicate it," explains Saghir.
Fun fact: There are other activities that can trigger the same mirroring effect. For example, if you see someone scratching, you might feel the urge to scratch as well.
Yawning may help regulate your temperature.
Temperature regulation is a key reason scientists believe humans yawn. When you're with others, you're likely all undergoing a similar process of regulating your body temperature. Research shows that as the temperature around a person rises, the frequency of yawns increases, and it’s logical to assume that if you’re yawning due to the heat, the person next to you is likely doing the same.
Is It Possible to Yawn Too Much?
We've all been there—whether it's during a meeting, a class, or a casual chat with a neighbor, and suddenly, you just can't stop yawning. Could this be a sign of something more? The NIH states that on average, people yawn around 20 times a day. However, certain situations can cause you to yawn more. For instance, if you're in a setting that’s making you tired (like a dull presentation) or if you didn't get enough rest the night before, you may find yourself yawning more than usual.
That said, there are instances where excessive yawning could be a sign of something more serious. For example, frequent yawning can sometimes occur when someone is having a stroke. Elevated cortisol levels (i.e., high stress) can also cause increased yawning. Excessive yawning during the day may point to sleep disorders like insomnia, narcolepsy, or sleep apnea, where poor sleep leads to more yawns. Additionally, chronic health issues such as heart disease, multiple sclerosis, or liver disease can lead to increased yawning, though these are typically accompanied by other symptoms.
What’s most important is to monitor how often you're yawning for you. If you notice an unexplained increase in yawns, it might be time to consult your doctor. Excessive yawning could be a sign of an underlying issue, including neurological, psychiatric, infectious, gastrointestinal, or metabolic diseases.
