2006-12-01 14:27:19 · 17 answers · asked by DSF 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Medicine
The yawn reflex is often described as contagious: if one person yawns, this will cause another person to "sympathetically" yawn.The proximate cause for contagious yawning may lie with mirror neurons, i.e. neurons in the frontal cortex of certain vertebrates, which upon being exposed to a stimulus from conspecific (same species) and occasionally interspecific organisms, activates the same regions in the brain. Mirror neurons have been proposed as a driving force for Imitation which lies at the root of much human learning, e.g. language acquisition. Yawning may be an offshoot of the same imitative impulse. At a distal level (in terms of evolutionary advantage), 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, for example a human yawning in front of a pet dog can incite the dog to yawn as well. 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.
2006-12-01 14:30:27 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
Very long time ago, when we were living in caves, yawning was considered a social response to the fact that the group leader was yawning too.
"Yawning in synchrony is more common amoung potential lovers - not as a sign of bordom, but as an expression of their mutual empathy and attraction!"
2006-12-01 20:23:44 · answer #2 · answered by Green Alex 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's a reflex started at the back of the throat. (almost like when you gag) It is contagious because our brains have a wierd "empathetic" channel attached to that reflex muscle. This is why when one person throws up other people might too. Not everyone yawns only those in tune to this reflex.
2006-12-01 14:32:21 · answer #3 · answered by dizzy 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Close your mouth!! Don't yawn! A a a Yawn! Rat! I told you not to yawn! It contagious!!!
2006-12-01 14:35:10 · answer #4 · answered by codeworx7 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Good question! I would think that seeing someone yawn, triggers something in our reflexes or brain that makes us imitate the behavior.
2006-12-01 17:37:46 · answer #5 · answered by Lady Albritton 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I looked up this article and yawned as soon as I saw the picture of the fox.....interesting, I didn't make it through the article though. maybe you'll have better luck
2006-12-01 14:30:42 · answer #6 · answered by curious cat 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
because we were pack creatures and we used to eat, sleep etc together I believe...it's primordial response...a cool experiment would be to yawn around a dog and see if it yawns lol..
2006-12-01 14:30:57 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
yep, if u yawn the guy next to u will yawn too, just try it
2006-12-01 14:31:11 · answer #8 · answered by Structure 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I do not believe that it is..Yawning happens when your brain lacks oxygen…so it is all just a bog coincidence
2006-12-01 14:30:31 · answer #9 · answered by brenthba 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I don't know, but I swear I yawned when I read that question! LOL!
2006-12-01 14:29:10 · answer #10 · answered by mrtoddanson 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋