Why does yawning seem to be contagious?

Question

I've felt the urge to yawn after I see other people yawn, and many people say it's "contagious." Is this in our imaginations or is it real? If it's real, does anyone know what causes it?

Answer 1

In an effort to find the answer, the Finnish government recently funded a brain scanning study. The results turned up some hard-to-interpret, possible clues. It also confirmed the obvious: yawn contagion is largely unconscious. Wherever it might affect the brain, it bypasses the known brain circuitry for consciously analyzing and mimicking other people’s actions.

This circuitry is called the “mirror-neuron system,” because it contains a special type of brain cells, or neurons, that become active both when their owner does something, and when he or she senses someone else doing the same thing.

Mirror neurons typically become active when a person consciously imitates an action of someone else, a process associated with learning. But they seem to play no role in yawn contagiousness, the researchers in the new study found. The cells are have no extra activity during contagious yawning compared with during other non-contagious facial movements, they observed.

Brain activity “associated with viewing another person yawn seems to circumvent the essential parts of the MNS [mirror neuron system], in line with the nature of contagious yawns as automatically released behavioural acts—rather than truly imitated motor patterns that would require detailed action understanding,” wrote the researchers, with the Helsinki University of Technology and the Research Centre Jülich, Germany. The findings are published in the February issue of the research journal Neuroimage.

Answer 2

Yawning is contagious--this is why it type of feels like that is. about fifty 5% of the persons in a room will respond to a yawn by yawning themselves. Yawning contagiousness is suitable to copy neurons. those are the neurons that assist you to to mimic those round you, and they're a large part of studying speech. Autistic little ones, who lack in this section, do no longer respond to others yawning, which helps this end. Many theories exist as to why this will be useful, mainly for yawning. One theory is that it synchronizes the p.c.., getting sound asleep/wakeful schedules going at the same time. yet another theory is that it passes on the tips that part of the team is drained, likely growing to be more desirable knowledge in different persons contained in the team to make up for it. there is also someone that thinks that yawning is significant for preserving our brains cool; i think in this example, in view that we are all interior a similar warmth ecosystem, that is useful to get your yawns going to keep your mind cool.

Answer 3

Since we were children we learned to imitate others. Imitation helps protect us by keeping us linked to the group. Once the yawn starts other factors kick in. But, in a group, imitating actions such as head scratching, coughing, sniffing, yawning, laughing at things that might not be funny, etc. all solidify group behavior and keep people linked to the group even if they don't know each other.

Answer 4

Yawning doesn't seem to be well-understood. It makes sense to me that it is some kind of social signal, letting others know that you either (1) are bored/want to change activities, or (2) need more oxygen. In either case, it makes sense that others would respond with a yawn--either in agreement or in an attempt to 'grab' the decreasing oxygen in the room!

Answer 5

I really don't get any urges to yawn after seeing other people do it. Maybe it is just me.

Answer 6

It's Pavlovian. Like Pavlov's dogs hearing the bell and starting to salavate. When Humans see another yawn, their muscle memory effects them in the same way.

Answer 7

in my opinion i think it is all in the mind, because i tested this and i dont have to yawn after people. try it u will see u can control ur body

Answer 8

Because when we see others yawn, we feel pity for them and want to express our condolences by joining them.

Answer 9

I think that it's real i feel it too, not just w/ yawning but w/ sneezing and the hiccups too!!!

Answer 10

Our yawn contains carbon dixoide, so when those people passed it to us we yawn too.