What is the reason for yawns? Does it mean that we are sleepy?

Answer 1

Causes of yawning:
1. An indication of tiredness, stress, over-work, or boredom.
2. An action indicating psychological decompression after a state of high alert.
3. A means of expressing powerful emotions like anger, rejection, apathy, or tedium.

A yawn can express strong anti-social messages, and so in some cultures people try to mute or mask them by placing a concealing hand over the yawning mouth.

A long-standing hypothesis is that yawning is caused by an excess of carbon dioxide and lack of oxygen in the blood. The brain stem detects this and triggers the yawn reflex. The mouth stretches wide and the lungs inhale deeply, bringing oxygen into the lungs and hence to the bloodstream. It is almost certain however, that this hypothesis is not correct. One study documented that this effect does not exist. A more recent hypothesis is that yawning is used for regulation of body temperature. Another hypothesis is that yawns are caused by the same chemicals (neurotransmitters) in the brain that affect emotions, mood, appetite and other phenomena. These chemicals include serotonin, dopamine, glutamic acid and nitric oxide. As more of these compounds are activated in the brain, the frequency of yawning increases. Conversely, a greater presence in the brain of opiate neurotransmitters such as endorphins, reduces the frequency of yawning. Patients taking the serotonin reuptake inhibitor Paxil (Paroxetine HCl) have been observed yawning abnormally often. Another theory is that yawning is similar to stretching. Yawning, like stretching, increases blood pressure and heart rate while also flexing many muscles and joints. It is also theorized that yawning helps redistribute an oil-like substance which coats the lungs and aids breathing. Some have observed that if you try to stifle or prevent a yawn by clenching your jaws shut, the yawn is unsatisfying. As such, the stretching of jaw and face muscles seems to be necessary for a good yawn.

The yawn reflex is often described as contagious: if one person yawns, this will cause another person to "sympathetically" yawn.The reasons for this are unclear; however, recent research suggests that yawning might be a herd instinct. Other theories suggest that the yawn serves to synchronize mood behavior among gregarious animals, similar to the howling of the wolf pack during a full moon. It signals tiredness to other members of the group in order to synchronize sleeping patterns and periods of activity. It can serve as a warning in displaying large, canine teeth. This phenomenon has been observed among various primates. The threat gesture is a way of maintaining order in the primates' social structure. The contagion of yawning is interspecific (i.e., try yawning in front of your dog). Yawning in public is generally regarded as impolite in the West, but came into fashion in polite French society for a brief period in the late 18th century. Oddly, sometimes sympathetic yawning may be caused by simply looking at a picture of a person or animal yawning, or even seeing the word "yawn".

Adelie Penguins employ yawning as part of their courtship ritual. Penguin couples face off and the males engage in what is described as an "ecstatic display," their beaks open wide and their faces pointed skyward. This trait has also been seen among Emperor Penguins. Researchers have been attempting to discover why these two different species share this trait, despite not sharing a habitat.

Answer 2

There are many parts of the body that are in action when you yawn. First, your mouth opens and jaw drops, allowing as much air to be taken in as possible. When you inhale, the air taken in is filling your lungs. Your abdominal muscles flex and your diaphragm is pushed down. The air you breath in expands the lungs to capacity and then some of the air is blown back out.

Not much is known about why we yawn or if it serves any useful function, and very little research has been done on the subject. However, there are several theories about why we yawn. Here are the three most common theories:


The Physiological Theory -- Our bodies induce yawning to drawn in more oxygen or remove a build-up of carbon dioxide. This theory helps explain why we yawn in groups. Larger groups produce more carbon dioxide, which means our bodies would act to draw in more oxygen and get rid of the excess carbon dioxide. However, if our bodies make us yawn to drawn in needed oxygen, wouldn't we yawn during exercise? Robert Provine, a psychologist at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and a leading expert on yawning, has tested this theory. Giving people additional oxygen didn't decrease yawning and decreasing the amount of carbon dioxide in a subject's environment also didn't prevent yawning.
The Evolution Theory -- Some think that yawning is something that began with our ancestors, who used yawning to show their teeth and intimidate others. An offshoot of this theory is the idea that yawning developed from early man as a signal for us to change activities.
The Boredom Theory -- In the dictionary, yawning is said to be caused by boredom, fatigue or drowsiness. Although we do tend to yawn when bored or tired, this theory doesn't explain why Olympic athletes yawn right before they compete in their event. It's doubtful that they are bored with the world watching them.

Answer 3

Everyone yawns, probably several times a day - but why? What is the purpose of yawning? You'd think that with something so common and basic, scientists would have some idea about what is going on and why, but the truth is they don't. The reasons for yawning are just as mysterious as the reasons for why yawning is contagious.

The idea that yawning may be related of our ability to empathize and our social relationships is very interesting. Given how fundamental yawning is to us as a species and how old it is in life on Earth, this may indicate just how fundamental the social nature of humanity is. What else about us that is regarded as purely biological may, in fact, be related to our social natures?

Answer 4

Yes, yawns do mean that you are sleepy. In fact, a yawn is your body trying to gulp in more oxygen to overcome the sleepiness. A little trivia for you...yawning is contagious, but only in humans. It comes from prehistoric times when people in groups had to develop similar sleep patterns.

Answer 5

A yawn is a deep, involuntary inspiration with the mouth open, often accompanied by the act of stretching.”It is an involuntary respiratory reflex. One theory as to why we yawn is to regulate carbon dioxide and oxygen levels in the lungs.People yawn when they are tired or bored—whenever the oxygen levels in the lungs are low.

Answer 6

My own personal belief which is not based on any research but merely a feeling is that when you yawn, you are being visited by the Holy Spirit of God who enters through your mouth into your heart and soul to dwell within you. That is why you feel so much better after a good yawn.

Answer 7

at times yawning can experience reliable. i understand if I stretch my jaw downwards, a brilliant number of time i'm going to wind up yawning. i think of we are so mushy to how "contagious" yawning is that something simulating the action will reason it. at times yawning is often an illustration which you're greater drained than you recognize. If i don't get adequate sleep at nighttime, at times I won't experience drained in any respect via fact i'm under pressure or basically extremely into what i'm doing (Yahoo! solutions, as an occasion!), yet i'm going to start up yawning besides. as quickly as I loosen up and circulate away my laptop, i'm going to comprehend i actually *am* drained. i think of our bodies attempt to let us know whilst it's time to sit down down back, despite if we don't experience sleepy good away. As others have mentioned, the yawn will advance oxygen, considering the fact that we take a huge breath with it. you desire to sleep, however the physique desires the oxygen on a similar time as that's wide awake. So in case you're inactive and not respiratory a good purchase, you need to start to yawn. i'm yawning as I write this, via how. In monkeys, apes, huge cats, and another animals, yawning could be an illustration of hysteria, aggression, or rigidity. style of like asserting, "howdy, i'm basically chilling out over right here, yet verify out how huge my tooth are. Yeah, this is sweet. no longer that i'm making worry...basically needed to instruct you that i've got have been given some pointy canines in case you have been thinking of beginning something." Do you yawn once you're under pressure?

Answer 8

Yawns give more oxygen to the brain. Well, when we wake up we need oxygen to wake up. So we yawn.

Answer 9

lack of oxygen to the brain makes us yawn. Its true.

Answer 10

You yawn b/c your body needs more oxygen.