Yawning is just one of those things that we do without really understanding it. It seems like we yawn when we’re tired, and it also seems like we yawn when we’re bored, but that’s about as far as most of us understand. Interestingly, though, there are a lot of cerebral mechanisms at play when we yawn.
What might just seem like an interesting tic of the human psyche is actually something that has a few different explanations for it. So here is why we yawn (and in case you were wondering, no, we cannot control it).
What might just seem like an interesting tic of the human psyche is actually something that has a few different explanations for it. So here is why we yawn (and in case you were wondering, no, we cannot control it).
Why Do We Yawn?
You may have noticed that human beings aren’t the only animals that yawn. If you have a dog or cat, you’ve probably seen them yawn while tired before. Lots of animals yawn, and they almost all do it the same way. That’s because we all share an evolutionary change that causes us to move our faces and inhale - also known as yawning - when we are tired.
Doing this motion is supposed to wake us up and make us feel more alert, although it doesn’t always end up doing that. There’s clear evolutionary pressure for animals to stay awake, so that’s where yawns come in.
Doing this motion is supposed to wake us up and make us feel more alert, although it doesn’t always end up doing that. There’s clear evolutionary pressure for animals to stay awake, so that’s where yawns come in.
Other Reasons for Yawning
Although the idea that yawning is supposed to wake us up definitely makes sense at face value, science is still divided on the concept. This is because yawning doesn’t always coincide with someone being tired. In fact, you may find yourself (or other people) yawning when feeling stressed, sick, or anything else.
Like many other common tics, yawning becomes associated with a certain feeling or emotion, and we then do it subconsciously due to that association. One of the most amazing examples of this is the fact that skydivers report yawning before jumping out of an airplane. That is obviously not a moment where you would feel tired, so it must be some other association causing them to do that. This has left science stumped.
Like many other common tics, yawning becomes associated with a certain feeling or emotion, and we then do it subconsciously due to that association. One of the most amazing examples of this is the fact that skydivers report yawning before jumping out of an airplane. That is obviously not a moment where you would feel tired, so it must be some other association causing them to do that. This has left science stumped.
Cooling the Brain
Another theory for why we yawn has to do with brain temperature. A study that was conducted found that yawning occurred far less during the cold months of winter, and that seemed to suggest that we yawn more in hot temperatures. This makes sense.
We know that yawning creates better blood flow in the face and brain, and we initially thought that this alone was enough to make us feel more alert. New theories, however, suggest that this flow of blood keeps our brains cooled down, which in turn wakes us up. That might be why it’s such a subconscious motion. Our brains want us to do it without needing to consciously communicate that idea to us.
We know that yawning creates better blood flow in the face and brain, and we initially thought that this alone was enough to make us feel more alert. New theories, however, suggest that this flow of blood keeps our brains cooled down, which in turn wakes us up. That might be why it’s such a subconscious motion. Our brains want us to do it without needing to consciously communicate that idea to us.
Are Yawns Contagious?
If there’s one thing that science definitely knows about yawning, it’s that it is very contagious. The next time someone yawns near you, pay close attention. You’ll most likely find that you start yawning as well! Yawning is also something that has the ability to cross between species.
If you yawn in front of your pet, it might just yawn back. This has to do with parts of your brain that relate to empathy, meaning that your own yawn is an unconscious empathetic response to seeing someone else do the same thing. In fact, not yawning after seeing others do it has been linked to sociopathy.
If you yawn in front of your pet, it might just yawn back. This has to do with parts of your brain that relate to empathy, meaning that your own yawn is an unconscious empathetic response to seeing someone else do the same thing. In fact, not yawning after seeing others do it has been linked to sociopathy.
Wanna Stop Yawning?
In short, yawning is an unconscious action that we do because our brains want us to stay alert - although it is admittedly much more complicated than that. If you ever find that you’re yawning way too much, though, there are a few things that you can try to get yourself to step. Getting up and walking around is helpful, and cooling your body off will also cause your yawning to stop. Another great strategy to stop yawning: taking a nap. Just try not to do that when you’re in public!
