why do we yawn?

Question

if its your brain thats "tired" why does our mouth open? and why does it feel good when we have done it?

Answer 1

we are not getting enough air and that is why we yawn and bc we do it we get more air and it makes our body feel good. Just a guess

Answer 2

I think we can yawn for a number of different reasons. The reason for a yawn depends on the individual person's needs or angst. I think some yawn for emotion reasons, and some yawn because the body, a machine, has to make a "mechanical correction." Or may be we yawn to simultaneously fulfill both emotional needs & needs of our body. Here's some ideas paraphrased from Wiki:

First, I think it's an old wives tale that we yawn to take in oxygen. Why not just take a deep breath?

A person might yawn because they are tired, stressed, or bored. Some people yawn after enduring a high pressure situation. Yawning can be an emotional expression, like laughing. I often yawn when I'm at work, on the phone with a client that I think is nuts.

Other studies have suggested that yawning is used for regulation of body temperature; or yawns are caused by the same chemicals (neurotransmitters) in the brain that affect emotions, mood, appetite and other phenomena called endorphins.

Another theory is that yawning is similar to stretching, increasing blood pressure and heart rate while also flexing muscles and joints. Some have observed that if you try to stifle or prevent a yawn by clenching your jaws shut, the yawn is unsatisfying. As such, the stretching of jaw and face muscles seems to be necessary for a good yawn.

Answer 3

your brain isnt tired when we yawn its deprived of oxygen or atleast as much as it may need at that moment.thats why we yawn our mouths open when we breathe to tkae in more oxygen and when you yawn you take in a long deep held breath. and b/c of that your body gets an "oomph" like a kick start in a way and you get blood flowing which gets endorphins running which helps us/u feel good....and thats why your mouth opens when you yawn and why it feels good after the fact hope that helps you out some

Answer 4

Gives the brain a micro-break as its feeling tired. Maybe the mind internally does other things at the same time.
It is also a signal to ourselves and others that we are tired and need to rest. We have socially adapted this to use it as a usually rude sign to others that "I'm bored".

Answer 5

We yawn to get more oxygen to the brain..(or so my old Science teacher used to say)

Answer 6

A previous long-standing hypothesis is that yawning is caused by an excess of carbon dioxide and lack of oxygen in the blood. The brain stem detects this and triggers the yawn reflex. The mouth stretches wide and the lungs inhale deeply, bringing oxygen into the lungs and hence to the bloodstream. It is almost certain, however, that this hypothesis is not correct. One study has documented that this effect does not exist.[2]

A more recent hypothesis is that yawning is used for regulation of body temperature. Another hypothesis is that yawns are caused by the same chemicals (neurotransmitters) in the brain that affect emotions, mood, appetite and other phenomena. These chemicals include serotonin, dopamine, glutamic acid and nitric oxide. As more of these compounds are activated in the brain, the frequency of yawning increases. Conversely, a greater presence in the brain of opiate neurotransmitters such as endorphins reduces the frequency of yawning. Patients taking the serotonin reuptake inhibitor Paxil (Paroxetine HCl) have been observed yawning abnormally often.

Another theory is that yawning is similar to stretching. Yawning, like stretching, increases blood pressure and heart rate while also flexing many muscles and joints. It is also theorized that yawning helps redistribute an oil-like substance which coats the lungs and aids breathing. Some have observed that if you try to stifle or prevent a yawn by clenching your jaws shut, the yawn is unsatisfying. As such, the stretching of jaw and face muscles seems to be necessary for a good yawn.

Another theory is that yawning occurs to stabilize pressure on either side of the ear drums. The deep intake of air can sometimes cause a popping sound that only the yawner can hear; this is the pressure on the inner ear stabilizing. This commonly occurs in lower-pressure environments, such as inside an airplane, which cause the eardrums to be bent instead of flat.

Some movements in psychotherapy such as Re-evaluation Counseling or co-counselling believe that yawning, along with laughter and crying, are means of "discharging" painful emotion, and therefore can be encouraged in order to promote physical and emotional healing.

Answer 7

what i heard from a lecturer was, we yawn is because our brain needs a little bit more oxygen. when we yawn, of course we breath in certain amount of oxygen. & so we feel good.

i'm not sure whether this is right.

Answer 8

When we are tired, we tend to not breath properly, and this is a way to replenish the body with oxygen again. I read this in a book on breathing exercises.

Answer 9

I believe its a way to get extra oxygen to the brain.

Answer 10

Here's the REAL question: Why is it that when somebody yawns, it makes you want to yawn too?