The Continuing Puzzle of Why We Yawn

You may be inclined to think that a big open-mouthed yawn with outstretched arms is a consequence of boredom or tiredness. But have you ever noticed that people often yawn when they are nervous and anxious too! The reasons why we yawn are of ongoing interest to researchers with some theories past and present discussed below.

The Body’s Way of Keeping You Alert

It has been proposed that becaus e we often yawn when we are beginning to feel dopey, it may be a way that our body is trying to keep us more alert. However, this has been shown not to be true, as brain scans have shown that electrical activity in the brain is no more increased post-yawn compared to pre-yawn.

Low Blood Oxygen Levels

Another theory has been that a yawn may arise as a consequence of low blood oxygen levels. Again, this has been dismissed owing to tests demonstrating that yawning does not increase oxygen levels in the blood.

A Way to Cool Down the Brain

A somewhat interesting suggestion was made that yawning may be a method the body uses to cool down the brain. A big open-mouthed influx of air when we’re feeling hot was thought to have this effect. However, it has been shown that nose breathing actually cools us more effectively than mouth breathing does

Making Ourselves Look Threatening to Predators

In the animal kingdom it has long been understood that a showing of the pearly whites is a warning sign to back-off. Therefore, it wouldn’t be outrageous to suggest that yawning may be a leftover evolutionary survival mechanism. The urge to yawn when you feel tired involuntarily shows your teeth or ‘weapons' to any observing threats when you’re at your most vulnerable

Why Are Yawns Contagious?

Have you ever noticed that young children don’t tend to ‘catch’ yawns? It is thought that catching a yawn is an act of empathy towards the person you have witnessed yawning. The same areas of the brain that light up when caring and connecting with others, also light up when you ‘catch’ a yawn. It is thought that the empathetic part of the brain doesn’t develop until 5 years of age.

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