What causes the phenomenon that when you see somebody else yawn (even if they're only on TV), you do too?

Answer 1

The yawn reflex is often described as contagious: if one person yawns, this will cause another person to "sympathetically" yawn.[2] The reasons for this are unclear; however, recent research suggests that yawning might be a herd instinct.[3] 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".

Answer 2

i do not imagine all people quite is acquainted with why yawning is "contagious," yet there are a decision of theories on what motives yawning more often than not. One became that it released extra CO2 from the body, yet i imagine that one has considering been discounted. lately, a study indicated that yawning surely takes position to relax the mind. many human beings were observed even as observing video clips of human beings yawning. some held warmth packs to their heads - those human beings yawned fairly regularly. Others held chilly packs or breathed by their noses - those human beings yawned least usually by a ways. this is because respiration by your nostril or making use of a warmth %. has already cooled down the mind. i wager i did not quite answer your question, yet i got here across that study exciting...

Answer 3

I do not copy yawning by other people, but apparently I am in a minority; it is normal to do so. See:

http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/yawning.html

for a good discussion of the phenomenon and possible causes, with links.

Answer 4

Actually yawning is a sign of lack of oxygen to the brain.TRUST ME I AM A NURSE.When people are dying the yawn alot b/c of poor circulation of oxygen to the rain.

Answer 5

it's an evolution thing - monkeys do it too...

they reckon that it first evolved so that all the members of a group of monkeys/chimps/other animals would go to sleep when a few got tired. it's just stayed with us so if we see a yawn we do it too

=edit=

interesting thing: while reading other peoples responses, i started yawning myself (even though i'm not tired). so it looks like it even works for reading the word (as "kevin's gal" suggested)

Answer 6

The yawning you are talking about is termed as Sympethetic yawning

It is unclear yet.

Answer 7

Yeah...I yawned right now!

Answer 8

Domino effect.

Answer 9

i read this and yawned...

rich, will be the person, that solves this mystery..