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why are yawns catchy?

M

MrVeedo

Senior member
im bored, so here it is. why is a yawn catchy? is there a scientific explanation? why is it i dont even have to hear or see someone yawn, but its still catchy?
 
I think it's just because you see someone else do it, so you think you are also short of oxygen, so you do to (subconsciously).
 
The simple answer is that there is JUST ENOUGH oxygen to go around, but when someone yawns, they use more than their fair share and deprive someone nearby of the oxygen they need, so they need to yawn to make up the deficit - which, of course, uses more then their fair share...

It's a vicious *yawn* cycle!
 
Originally posted by: Jzero
The simple answer is that there is JUST ENOUGH oxygen to go around, but when someone yawns, they use more than their fair share and deprive someone nearby of the oxygen they need, so they need to yawn to make up the deficit - which, of course, uses more then their fair share...

It's a vicious *yawn* cycle!
Click to expand...

:thumbsup:
 
I would think that yawns are contagious because they are meant to suck in air due to a lack of it in the body, and maybe, subconsciouly, we realize that there is a chance that the air in the area is running out and would rather the other person die then ourselves.....
 
Originally posted by: MrVeedo
im bored, so here it is. why is a yawn catchy? is there a scientific explanation? why is it i dont even have to hear or see someone yawn, but its still catchy?
Click to expand...

I take it you haven't seen the Mythbusters episode yet MrVeedo? 😉
 
from the article TySnyder posted
A few notions about why we yawn have been debunked: "Because breathing takes in oxygen and removes carbon dioxide, theories in the past about why we yawn centered on the assumption that it was a reflex in response to low oxygen or high carbon dioxide levels," writes Dr. Robert H. Shmerling, an associate physician at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and an associate professor at Harvard Medical School.

"This theory lost favor after a study in 1987, in which volunteers subjected to high oxygen levels did not yawn less, and after high carbon dioxide exposure did not yawn more," Shmerling said.|
Click to expand...

who knows


 
Originally posted by: Zim Hosein
Originally posted by: MrVeedo
im bored, so here it is. why is a yawn catchy? is there a scientific explanation? why is it i dont even have to hear or see someone yawn, but its still catchy?
Click to expand...

I take it you haven't seen the Mythbusters episode yet MrVeedo? 😉
Click to expand...

no, was yawning on mythbusters? i kind of quit watching those dudes
 
Yawns, just as laughs, are contagious because of conformity to a group. If "everyone" (especially 3 people or more) are doing something, you will want to do it, too. If everyone is standing backwards in an elevator, backs turned to the door, a bystander will do the same. They've done that before. 😀
 
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