2006-09-05 10:14:44 · 31 answers · asked by Lauren 1 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
Yawning is part of the body's way of changing from a state of activity to inactivity and vice versa. Since humans evolved in small groups who did the same things at the same time, it was advantageous when one person saw another person yawning to yawn as well, so that they too were prepared for whatever change in activity the yawn indicated. This is why the tendancy evolved.
2006-09-05 10:22:05 · answer #1 · answered by Bovril 2 · 5⤊ 1⤋
When We Yawn, We Are Short Of Oxygen (Air), So When We Are In A Room With Other's And They Yawn, Our Brain Tell's The Body, So To Speak, Other's Are Short Of Oxygen So You Must Be To!
And When We Yawn When We Are Tired, Our Body Is More Relaxed, So Breathing Becomes Lighter, Hence Again, Short Of Oxygen, Which Lead's To Yawning!
2006-09-06 22:49:12 · answer #2 · answered by mad_smith1 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
People yawn do to a lack of oxygen! So if one person yawns you most probably find the next person yawns for the same reason! There is not enough fresh air circulating in the room! Hence every one start yawning!
2006-09-07 04:00:32 · answer #3 · answered by peta g 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A yawn is a semi-automatic reflex that originates in the brain stem in response to a lower level of oxygen in the brain. Yawning also occurs when a person loses interest in their surroundings, i.e gets bored. It does not necessarily indicate fatigue, although people do tend to yawn when they're sleepy. A study was done in which heart rate, skin effects, and muscle tension were measured in 30 young adults before, during, and after yawns. They found that yawning did increase their level of arousal for a short time.
Yawning is an action that occurs throughout the animal kingdom (cats in particular seem to yawn a great deal). In the late 1980s several studies were done in rats, and it was found that rats yawned more in the early morning before awakening and also when they were very hungry. Several different brain chemicals seem to be involved in yawning, but the mechanisms are still not understood.
For example, yawning seems to be contagious. Why is that? (Just reading about yawning made me yawn several times!) In your case, I doubt that a lack of oxygen is the main reason you yawn.
2006-09-06 19:14:22 · answer #4 · answered by Chariotmender 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yawning is a herd instinct, also sometimes people yawn simply by looking at a picture of a person or animal yawning, or even seeing the word "yawn" which i did when i read your question!
2006-09-06 17:06:05 · answer #5 · answered by brownsuga 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yawning is opening the mouth wide and taking a breath. This may be because there is a lack of fresh air. If one person yawns for this reason, why shouldn't another?
2006-09-06 08:02:03 · answer #6 · answered by Canute 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
we yawn when our body needs more oxygen. notice when you yawn a body takes in a lot of air - just pumps up the additional oxygen in the body.
usually yawning is contagious because when you see someone yawn, your body triggers the signal for more oxygen too!
however you can control this - it is not an involuntary action and can be stopped.
people usually yawn when they are tired / sleepy - to jump start the body by giving more oxygen to the cells or when we are in a closed room with no fresh air - in this case everyone's body needs more oxygen
2006-09-06 10:35:28 · answer #7 · answered by GorGeous_Girl 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There is a scientific answer to your question but i will not waste your time with it. The simple reason is because human beings have a genetic ability of copying others. Your neighbour buys a new car you want one he paints his/her house you do the same. He paves the drive way you dream about doing the same thing. The person sitting next to you in the bus or train yawns you yawn. We are copy cats always copying each other.
2006-09-06 07:34:43 · answer #8 · answered by cool runings 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Bovril has given a great answer - but I believe additionally we yawn through a lack of oxygen in our blood stream, so it figures that if for any reason the oxygen in an area is low, then mechanism of yawning will cut in for everyone.
2006-09-06 12:23:55 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I read somewhere that is basic instinct to yawn if others are,as yawning is drawing in more oxygen to the body to keep the body more active (THIS IS WHY WE YAWN WHEN WE ARE TIRED) and when we see others yawning, our brain tells us that they are stealing our oxygen (basic instinct -weird) and we yawn too to get more oxygen into us too.... Good luck with this one
2006-09-05 17:35:33 · answer #10 · answered by Kelly D 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋