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"A couple of things about yawning."

Just wondering as it has never crossed my mind before...

1) Why do we yawn?

and

2) How come other people yawn around you after you yawn.

cheers

Timmargh wrote:
> ... and if you stand up on an aeroplane and shout:
> "AAAARRRRGGGGHHHH!!!!"



No, you get thrown out if you do that.
:(

Damn alpha males.

VenomByte wrote:
> Yawning is for stimulation. It's done when you're tired, or in need of
> a change of activity.
>
> The contagious effect is conformism... originally the alpha male
> would yawn, thus signalling his desire to change activity. Others in
> the pack would then yawn, in a show of support.
>
> The instinctive reaction hasn't left us.

Did you just make that up? :)

As soon as I read initial post my gaping mouth opened to yawn :D

Dr Gonzo wrote:
> Guarantee 90% of people have yawned while reading this thread because
> of this.

Correct!


Wierd huh?

The contagious effect has very little to do with conformism, no more than a cough would follow that pattern. It has everything to do with a yawn basically being a little pleasure buzz for the brain, big suck of tasty oxygen to give it a little rush. You see someone yawn and what literally happens is your brain think "I got to get me one of those too".

Guarantee 90% of people have yawned while reading this thread because of this.

Yawning is the brain's way of stretching.

Kyz21 wrote:
> You yawn to create a sudden inlet of oxygen into your blood to
> stimulate you momentarily if you are tired.


That seems the most intelligent answer. cheers for clearing that up.

Timmargh wrote:
> *yawns*

*yawns*