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Why Is Yawning Contagious

Why Is Yawning Contagious. Joseph Francis Max Perrella And Kirk McKeever Mulligan. Contents. Title Contents Background: What is Yawning? Background: Why do we Yawn Background: Animal Yawning Why is Yawning Contagious Why is Yawning Contagious Cont.

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Why Is Yawning Contagious

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  1. Why Is Yawning Contagious Joseph Francis Max Perrella And Kirk McKeever Mulligan

  2. Contents • Title • Contents • Background: What is Yawning? • Background: Why do we Yawn • Background: Animal Yawning • Why is Yawning Contagious • Why is Yawning Contagious Cont. • Why is Yawning Contagious Cont. • Why is Yawning Contagious Conclusion

  3. What is Yawning • Yawning is an inhalation of air, with a simultaneous stretching of the eardrums • Yawning is followed by an exhalation • Pandiculation: stretching an yawning at the same time

  4. Why do we Yawn • Multiple theories • Yawning occurs when an animals blood contains an increased amount of carbon dioxide • The body is forced to yawn to increase the influx of oxygen • Yawns are a way to open up one’s muscles, accompanied by the urge to stretch it allows animals to exert to their full physical potential • Yawning may be the body’s way of regulating brain temperature

  5. Animals Yawning • Animals Yawning can serve as a warning signal • Charles Darwin discovered baboons yawn to threaten their enemies • Snakes yawn to realign their jaws after eating and for respiration reasons • Dogs often yawn after seeing humans yawn, and when they feel uncertain • Fish also yawn when they need more oxygen

  6. Why is Yawning Contagious • Contagious yawning has been observed since the 16th century • A translated French proverb from 1508 says “one man’s yawning makes another yawn.” • Observing another persons yawning face (especially eyes), reading, thinking, or even looking at a yawning picture can cause someone to yawn

  7. Why is Yawning Contagious Cont. • The most probable case for contagious yawning lies within our brains • Mirror neurons in our frontal cortex are stimulated by seeing others from the same species perform gestures. • Yawning is thought as an imitative impulse • Young autistic children do not increase their yawning after seeing others yawning, because their frontal cortex is less developed to imitate (same reason why they are less socially “normal”)

  8. Why is Yawning Contagious Cont. • Empathy is thought to also be a strong cause of yawn contagion • Yawns are most contagious when we see our family, then friends, then acquaintances, and lastly strangers yawn

  9. Why is Yawning Contagious Conclusion • Conclusion: Yawn contagion is because of the imitation neurons in our brain, and its magnitude is driven by the emotional closeness between individuals

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