One is that when we are bored or tired, we just don't breathe as deeply as we usually do. As this theory goes, our bodies take in less oxygen because our breathing has slowed. Therefore, yawning helps us bring more oxygen into the blood and move more carbon dioxide out of the blood.
- Is yawning natural?
- Why do we yawn when we see someone yawning?
- What causes yawning scientifically?
- What is the biological purpose of yawning?
Is yawning natural?
Yawning is a mostly involuntary process of opening the mouth and breathing in deeply, filling the lungs with air. It's a very natural response to being tired. In fact, yawning is usually triggered by sleepiness or fatigue.
Why do we yawn when we see someone yawning?
According to researchers, empathy is the most likely reason. "As humans age, we enhance our psychosocial and neurological development, taking other individuals yawning as a cue that we should yawn as well," says Dr. Saghir. Known as echophenomena, it has also been witnessed in chimpanzees and dogs, as well as humans.
What causes yawning scientifically?
In humans, yawning can start as early as 20 weeks after conception. A yawn is a coordinated movement of the thoracic muscles in the chest, diaphragm, larynx in the throat, and palate in the mouth. By yawning, we help distribute surfactant (wetting agent) to coat the alveoli (tiny air sacs) in the lungs.
What is the biological purpose of yawning?
Here's the basic idea: When you start to yawn, powerful stretching of the jaw increases blood flow in the neck, face, and head. The deep intake of breath during a yawn forces downward flow of spinal fluid and blood from the brain. Cool air breathed into the mouth cools these fluids.