While I was surfing the net, I notice how I’ve been yawning 
several times, and whenever I yawned, my lil bro who is studying next to me kept yawning too. Out of curiosity decided to Google it.
The simple truth is that even though humans have been yawning for possibly as long as they have existed, we have no clue as to why we do it.
However, there are several theories about why we yawn
. Here are the three most common theories:
• The Physiological Theory – Our bodies induce yawning to drawn in more oxygen or remove a build-up of carbon dioxide. This theory helps explain why we yawn in groups. Larger groups produce more carbon dioxide, which means our bodies would act to draw in more oxygen and get rid of the excess carbon dioxide. However, if our bodies make us yawn to drawn in needed oxygen, wouldn't we yawn during exercise? Robert Provine, a psychologist at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and a leading expert on yawning, has tested this theory. Giving people additional oxygen didn't decrease yawning and decreasing the amount of carbon dioxide in a subject's environment also didn't prevent yawning.
• The Evolution Theory -- Some think that yawning is something that began with our ancestors, who used yawning to show their teeth and intimidate others. An offshoot of this theory is the idea that yawning developed from early man as a signal for us to change activities.
• The Boredom Theory -- In the dictionary, yawning is said to be caused by boredom, fatigue or drowsiness. Although we do tend to yawn when bored or tired, this theory doesn't explain why Olympic athletes yawn right before they compete in their event. It's doubtful that they are bored with the world watching them.
**
Extracted from The Independent :
Some scientists have suggested that yawning brings about an increase in the oxygenation of the brain's "yawn centre" and is designed to maintain levels of alertness, particularly in times of stress. This may explain why, for instance, yawning is often seen when people are waiting for something stressful to happen. It is common among athletes just before their event begins, or indeed among students just prior to an exam.
**
Extracted from ABC News :
Until recently, scientists thought people yawned to replenish oxygen supplies to their blood. But University at Albany psychology professor Gordon Gallup said, as people yawn, they cool off their brains.
He said many things associated with yawning, like being tired, actually make the brain hot, and yawning can alleviate the heat.
"Extended periods of sleep deprivation raise brain temperature and do produce excessive yawning," Gallup said.
In a sense, the yawn is like the brain's air conditioner, which may make some rethink societal assumptions.
"Many people have the impression when talking to someone that if they yawn, it's an insult," Gallup said. "But according to our hypothesis, it's really a compliment, because it suggests that brain mechanisms have kicked in to reinstate and optimize mental processing."
"If everyone yawns in response to seeing someone yawn, it reinstates an optimal level of vigilance on the part of people in the group."
But, for those looking to avoid yawning, one of the best ways is to breathe through the nose.
In conclusion, there is no definite scientific reason why we yawn. A lot of scientists have concluded with several theories to yawning, but there are still doubts and other uncertainties of these theories. But one thing for sure, yawning is of course a natural human behavior. Regardless, if we're tired, or we're alert or we're sleepy, yawning is an uncontrollable action from our body. Plus, yawning is fun and satisfying.
Btw, any of you counted how many times that you actually yawn while reading this? Hehe... Not that my article was boring, i hope. Few articles suggested that even if you see someone yawning, or read about yawning or hear someone yawning, you’ll be probably yawning too.
Interesting Yawning Facts
• The average yawn lasts about six seconds.
• Your heart rate can rise as much as 30 percent during a yawn.
• 55 percent of people will yawn within five minutes of seeing someone else yawn.
• Blind people yawn more after hearing an audio tape of people yawning.
several times, and whenever I yawned, my lil bro who is studying next to me kept yawning too. Out of curiosity decided to Google it.
The simple truth is that even though humans have been yawning for possibly as long as they have existed, we have no clue as to why we do it.
However, there are several theories about why we yawn
. Here are the three most common theories:• The Physiological Theory – Our bodies induce yawning to drawn in more oxygen or remove a build-up of carbon dioxide. This theory helps explain why we yawn in groups. Larger groups produce more carbon dioxide, which means our bodies would act to draw in more oxygen and get rid of the excess carbon dioxide. However, if our bodies make us yawn to drawn in needed oxygen, wouldn't we yawn during exercise? Robert Provine, a psychologist at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and a leading expert on yawning, has tested this theory. Giving people additional oxygen didn't decrease yawning and decreasing the amount of carbon dioxide in a subject's environment also didn't prevent yawning.
• The Evolution Theory -- Some think that yawning is something that began with our ancestors, who used yawning to show their teeth and intimidate others. An offshoot of this theory is the idea that yawning developed from early man as a signal for us to change activities.
• The Boredom Theory -- In the dictionary, yawning is said to be caused by boredom, fatigue or drowsiness. Although we do tend to yawn when bored or tired, this theory doesn't explain why Olympic athletes yawn right before they compete in their event. It's doubtful that they are bored with the world watching them.
**
Extracted from The Independent :
Some scientists have suggested that yawning brings about an increase in the oxygenation of the brain's "yawn centre" and is designed to maintain levels of alertness, particularly in times of stress. This may explain why, for instance, yawning is often seen when people are waiting for something stressful to happen. It is common among athletes just before their event begins, or indeed among students just prior to an exam.
**
Extracted from ABC News :
Until recently, scientists thought people yawned to replenish oxygen supplies to their blood. But University at Albany psychology professor Gordon Gallup said, as people yawn, they cool off their brains.
He said many things associated with yawning, like being tired, actually make the brain hot, and yawning can alleviate the heat.
"Extended periods of sleep deprivation raise brain temperature and do produce excessive yawning," Gallup said.
In a sense, the yawn is like the brain's air conditioner, which may make some rethink societal assumptions.
"Many people have the impression when talking to someone that if they yawn, it's an insult," Gallup said. "But according to our hypothesis, it's really a compliment, because it suggests that brain mechanisms have kicked in to reinstate and optimize mental processing."
"If everyone yawns in response to seeing someone yawn, it reinstates an optimal level of vigilance on the part of people in the group."
But, for those looking to avoid yawning, one of the best ways is to breathe through the nose.
In conclusion, there is no definite scientific reason why we yawn. A lot of scientists have concluded with several theories to yawning, but there are still doubts and other uncertainties of these theories. But one thing for sure, yawning is of course a natural human behavior. Regardless, if we're tired, or we're alert or we're sleepy, yawning is an uncontrollable action from our body. Plus, yawning is fun and satisfying.
Btw, any of you counted how many times that you actually yawn while reading this? Hehe... Not that my article was boring, i hope. Few articles suggested that even if you see someone yawning, or read about yawning or hear someone yawning, you’ll be probably yawning too.
Interesting Yawning Facts
• The average yawn lasts about six seconds.
• Your heart rate can rise as much as 30 percent during a yawn.
• 55 percent of people will yawn within five minutes of seeing someone else yawn.
• Blind people yawn more after hearing an audio tape of people yawning.
