Wednesday, February 12, 2025

The Science Behind Contagious Yawning

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Yawning is a behavior seen in many animals, including humans. We often yawn when we see others yawn, which could be a way of communicating without words. This contagious yawning may help groups work together and stay alert at the same time. Mirror neurons in our brain activate when we see someone yawn, making us feel empathy and connect socially.

Some ideas suggest yawning could help regulate our body’s rhythm. While we are not sure why exactly we yawn, it might have to do with our internal body clock. People with autism or schizophrenia may not yawn when others do, showing how empathy plays a role in contagious yawning. So, if you yawn when a colleague does, it might be because of the shared experience, like eating lunch together. Yawning can be a special way of understanding others and communicating silently.


Vocabulary List:

  1. Contagious /kənˈteɪ.dʒəs/ (adjective): Able to be passed from one individual to another especially in reference to emotions or behaviors.
  2. Empathy /ˈɛm.pə.θi/ (noun): The ability to understand and share the feelings of another.
  3. Regulate /ˈrɛɡ.jʊ.leɪt/ (verb): To control or maintain the rate or speed of a machine or process.
  4. Rhythm /ˈrɪð.əm/ (noun): A strong regular repeated pattern of movement or sound.
  5. Behavior /bɪˈheɪ.vjər/ (noun): The way in which one acts or conducts oneself especially towards others.
  6. Activate /ˈæk.tɪ.veɪt/ (verb): To make something start working or to cause it to operate.

How much do you know?


What behavior is seen in many animals, including humans?
Running
Yawning
Jumping
Eating


What might contagious yawning help groups do?
Get tired
Fall asleep
Work together and stay alert
Get hungry


What activates in our brain when we see someone yawn?
Motor neurons
Sensory neurons
Mirror neurons
Cortical neurons


What role does empathy play in contagious yawning?
A minor role
No role
A significant role
An uncertain role


Why might people with autism or schizophrenia not yawn when others do?
Lack of sleep
Lack of empathy
Different body clock
Overactivation of mirror neurons


What might yawning help regulate?
Body temperature
Metabolism
Body rhythm
Heart rate

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