I have a theory its beacause your subconscious mind sees the other person yawning and thinks its using all the air up so must get some before its all gone. Its only a theory. Do you have a better one?
2006-09-30 22:34:37 · 8 answers · asked by spidermike 2 in News & Events ➔ Current Events
That's an interesting theory, and was one I had assumed until recently.
However, I recently read a very interesting science article studying contagious yawning in Chimpanzees.
Yes - chimps do exactly the same thing as humans: they are significantly more likely to yawn when they see another chimp yawning.
The researchers who carried out this study believe that contagious yawning is the result of empathy and self-awareness, both of which require a sophisticated intellect. Confirming this need for higher social development before contagious yawning happens - both humans under the age of 5 and infant chimps do NOT contagiously yawn.
Fascinating stuff. Doesn't quite explain why we yawn in the first place. However, another interesting finding is that although many mammals yawn - ONLY carnivores (everyone's seen pictures of lions doing this) but NO herbivores yawn.
Lots of research to do, I guess - although I suspect that's not very high priority for research funding agencies!
2006-09-30 23:13:53 · answer #1 · answered by the last ninja 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Almost correct - people yawn when their brain is short of oxygen. Therefore, when somebody else yawns, it triggers your subconscious mind to believe there may be a shortage of oxygen, causing you to yawn too.
2006-10-01 05:39:09 · answer #2 · answered by Raksha 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Seeing a person yawn makes you concious of how tired and sleepy you actually are. Such thoughts trigger off a yawn. Zzz.
2006-10-01 05:44:39 · answer #3 · answered by lkraie 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It aint.
when you hear or see a yawn you just think your brain needs more oxygen.
just like what that person before me said.
2006-10-01 07:03:54 · answer #4 · answered by gecko the brave 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its lack of oxygen to the brain that makes you yawn.
2006-10-01 10:24:47 · answer #5 · answered by Carol B 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
reading this just made me yawn. when i think or talk about it-it makes me yawn.it's probably to do with your subconscious mind
2006-10-01 07:17:24 · answer #6 · answered by qwerty 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
never raised the point but yes it certainly is contagious, im actually yawning now
2006-10-01 07:51:48 · answer #7 · answered by srracvuee 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
its not you are a follower not a leader
2006-10-01 05:49:36 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋