I know this is one of those basic human things but I’ve never really thought about it until today. I was sitting at Vancouver's airport just waiting for my flight. I was a bit tired but not actually yawning or anything. Then I looked over and saw this guy across from me do a big yawn and I instantly yawned right after. What’s wild is that the woman sitting one seat away from me also yawned like two seconds later. None of us were talking or anything. It was like this little chain reaction and we all kinda laughed awkwardly.
It got me wondering like what’s actually happening here? Is there a biological reason? And why is it so contagious even when we’re not actually tired?
I yawned reading this, haha, the human brain.
As did I haha
That's so funny haha
I didn't until I read this comment but then I did! 🥱
Me too haha
It’s basically your brain saying, “Look at us, we’re part of the same tired little herd.”
Some scientists think it’s empathy wiring, I think it’s the universe’s way of reminding us we’re all just squishy mammals running low on coffee.
we’re all just squishy mammals running low on coffee.
No truer words
Dogs are also believed to have contagious or empathetic yawns with other dogs or humans they’re close with.
Both my dog and cat do it.
It has to do with mirror neurons, which activate either when we perform a behavior or we see someone else perform that behavior. (Think "monkey see, monkey do").
I'm autistic, and people's yawns aren't usually contagious for me. The mirror neuron system in autistic people is one of the neurological differences about being autistic. Some autistic people do catch yawns though (autism is considered a spectrum condition because most people with it display different traits of it, as opposed to other disorders like dyslexia).
That explains why I had to train myself to mirror people.
Because we’re all so damn tired anymore
U have a point lmao
I would love to know why I just yawned from reading the word yawn so many times
me too, just thinking about yawning makes me yawn
We yawn to equalise the pressure in our ears to the ambient air pressure outside our ears, this causes the pressure outside our ears to change slightly so people in our close vicinity must then yawn to balance that change in air pressure thus creating a domino effect…
Mirror neurons probably. We socialize by unconsciously imitating people. Yawning triggers that tendency.
It’s peer pressure. One yawn and suddenly it’s a yawn cult. You didn’t want to yawn. You were summoned.
I yawned reading the word yawn
Physical expression of subconscious empathy.
Its humanitys original WiFi signal-spreading yawns everywhere
What i read like 10 years ago is: Yawning is about getting oxygen to your head. When your brain sees someone else yawn, your brain thinks they are stealing your oxygen, so you yawn to get more oxygen yourself. Maybe that was bullshit but now every time i see someone yawn, i think “Oxygen thief!”
Well documented phenomenon. Back in school the going theory was this is a function of the neural underpinnings of empathy. For better info try looking up 'mirror neurons'. Interesting stuff
Yesterday me and my dog did a loud burp at exactly the same time. I was so impressed.
An invisible alien is flying out of your mouth, and then pressing buttons on their spaceship to open someone else to fly into.
This is how it was explained to me when I wouldn't stop asking about it when I was a child and this post just brought that memory flooding back to me out of the depths, so thanks for the funny little nostalgia trip!
Same reason porn makes you want sno sno.
Because of empathy.
My pet rats I noticed when one would yawn the cagemates would yawn too. I tried yawning and sure enough. They all yawned. I made it a daily ritual after I woke up to yawn at them and sure enough they would all yawn right back. Absolute hilarity.
Mirror Neurons! Look 'em up!
Contagious yawning is a documented case exhibited by the majority of population. Essentially, it helps you align your sleep schedule with your tribe - people who are more empathetic than others tend to yawn more upon seeing someone else yawn.
I've also heard that its to keep your senses sharp. I.e., tribe going hunting needs to be aware of all the sights and sounds around them, so we developed a group strategy to do this. If you notice when you yawn, the pressure within your ears equalizes - helps you hear a little better.