Why do we yawn?

Question

Is it really anything to do with not enough air?

Answer 1

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.

Answer 2

Its a lack of oxygen that we associate with being tired therefore we yawn and take in as much air as possible, but i have absolutly no idea why we can "catch" a yawn! probly jus a brain conscious thing because animals dont do it!! (wo im yawning now just thinking about it) teehee

Answer 3

I think the causes of yawning are yet to be known and your idea would make sense if it was not already proven that it is not to increase Oxygen in the blood.

Check out this also: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yawn

Answer 4

yes you are right
we yawn to take in extra air when we are lacking oxygen.

when you are sleepy you yawn, for the same reason to boost your oxygen levels ,

They say yawning is catching , but that is only because others need additional oxygen too .

LOL! now i am yawning too!!!!!
It is warm and stuffy in here !

Yaaaaaaaaaawn !!

>^,,^<

Answer 5

Yep. But I don't know why it is that we yawn when we see others yawn - and I even yawned just reading the question lol.

Answer 6

we yawn because our bodys are getting ready to go asleep an soo we take in more air than normal

Answer 7

Yes. When we are tired, but need to stay awake, we need more oxygen. The brain detects this and makes us yawn. Hope this helps.

Answer 8

I was told it was a habbit from when we were cavemen.The idear is that when sombody was feeling sleepy they would yawn and it was a sign that ment for everyone to sleep.Also it could be that our body does it for a little more oxegen to make us feel more awake.It is also a social thing (back to cavemen)that when we see sombody yawn we do it too.

Answer 9

when your tired you need that extr intake of air to keep your system going. Sometimes its a mixture of tiredness and hunger, as hunger is a lack of energy. (I started a fit of yawning after this question...

Answer 10

I always thought it was the bodys own mechanism for politely letting others know they are boring and should just shut the hell up, but i have been wrong before after all, until recently i used to think that a ceaserian section was a district of ancient Rome.