Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Secular Pinoy · 03-29-2003, 04:43 PM

Why is yawning contagious? Is it an evolutionary adaptation or spandrel?

lpetrich · 03-29-2003, 07:46 PM

Nobody really knows the ultimate cause of yawn contagion, though I've seen some speculations. However, a more proximate cause may be that seeing someone else yawn makes one think about yawning. But why should yawning be provoked in such a fashion?

Secular Pinoy · 03-29-2003, 07:51 PM

Is yawning a meme?

Koyaanisqatsi · 03-29-2003, 07:55 PM

I don't remember where I heard this, so hopefully somebody else can either confirm or deny it, but yawning is supposed to be the result of too little nitrogen (or maybe too much) in the blood. The action is supposed to do something, I guess, to the lungs or whatever to either increase or decrease said nitrogen.

So, perhaps, since it's an automatic, self-regulatory process (i.e., in the "survival instincts" mode), seeing someone do it triggers it you? Or maybe it means that the area you are in is nitrogen poor/rich?

That's as far as my "old wive's tale" wisdom leads me on that one.

lpetrich · 03-29-2003, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Secular Pinoy
Is yawning a meme?

Most likely not; it's some sort of instinctual response, like coughing or laughing. Human fetuses are known to yawn, and here are lots of pictures of animal yawns. Species represented:

Gorilla, Baboons
Canids (dog, wolves, foxes, etc.)
Wolverines?
Bears
Seals
Felids (domestic cat, big cats, etc.)
Pig, Hippo
Horse
Birds (ostrich, eagles, etc.)
Crocodilians
Lizards
Snakes
Salamanders?
Bony Fish
Sharks

Jesse · 03-29-2003, 08:34 PM

Here's a Scientific American article on what is known about the neurology of yawning, with some speculation on why it's contagious:

http://www.sciam.com/askexpert_quest...FB809EC5880000

And if you're really interested, here's someone's 145-page thesis on yawning:

http://www.uweb.ucsb.edu/~eschniter/...pts/THESIS.pdf

Obviously I didn't read the whole thing, but I skimmed the first few pages, and apparently birds, reptiles, amphibians and possibly even fish yawn (see p. 14) so it's pretty old, evolutionary speaking.

Meanwhile, this is probably unrelated, but I recently came across a new theory of why we hiccup:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/2730251.stm

Psycho Economist · 03-29-2003, 08:36 PM

I think it's mental. Just reading this thread's got me yawning (not to say it's boring). The fact that it's 10:40 probably helps.

scigirl · 03-29-2003, 10:19 PM

Ha ha! I was going to post and say "is that even true that yawning is contagious" and then I yawned!

145 page thesis on yawning?? Yikes! Now that would make me yawn (to read it).

scigirl

Nickle · 03-29-2003, 10:49 PM

*yawning like crazy.

Damn you all to hell

Jesse · 03-29-2003, 11:14 PM

03-29-2003, 04:43 PM	#1
Secular Pinoy Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Quezon City, Philippines Posts: 1,994	Why is yawning contagious? Why is yawning contagious? Is it an evolutionary adaptation or spandrel?

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

03-29-2003, 07:46 PM	#2
lpetrich Contributor Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Lebanon, OR, USA Posts: 16,829	Nobody really knows the ultimate cause of yawn contagion, though I've seen some speculations. However, a more proximate cause may be that seeing someone else yawn makes one think about yawning. But why should yawning be provoked in such a fashion?

03-29-2003, 07:51 PM	#3
Secular Pinoy Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Quezon City, Philippines Posts: 1,994	Is yawning a meme?

03-29-2003, 07:55 PM	#4
Koyaanisqatsi Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Yes, I have dyslexia. Sue me. Posts: 6,508	I don't remember where I heard this, so hopefully somebody else can either confirm or deny it, but yawning is supposed to be the result of too little nitrogen (or maybe too much) in the blood. The action is supposed to do something, I guess, to the lungs or whatever to either increase or decrease said nitrogen. So, perhaps, since it's an automatic, self-regulatory process (i.e., in the "survival instincts" mode), seeing someone do it triggers it you? Or maybe it means that the area you are in is nitrogen poor/rich? That's as far as my "old wive's tale" wisdom leads me on that one.

03-29-2003, 08:34 PM	#6
Jesse Moderator - Science Discussions Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Providence, RI, USA Posts: 9,908	Here's a Scientific American article on what is known about the neurology of yawning, with some speculation on why it's contagious: http://www.sciam.com/askexpert_quest...FB809EC5880000 And if you're really interested, here's someone's 145-page thesis on yawning: http://www.uweb.ucsb.edu/~eschniter/...pts/THESIS.pdf Obviously I didn't read the whole thing, but I skimmed the first few pages, and apparently birds, reptiles, amphibians and possibly even fish yawn (see p. 14) so it's pretty old, evolutionary speaking. Meanwhile, this is probably unrelated, but I recently came across a new theory of why we hiccup: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/2730251.stm

03-29-2003, 08:36 PM	#7
Psycho Economist Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Peoria, IL Posts: 854	I think it's mental. Just reading this thread's got me yawning (not to say it's boring). The fact that it's 10:40 probably helps.

03-29-2003, 10:19 PM	#8
scigirl Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Seattle Posts: 4,261	Ha ha! I was going to post and say "is that even true that yawning is contagious" and then I yawned! 145 page thesis on yawning?? Yikes! Now that would make me yawn (to read it). scigirl

03-29-2003, 10:49 PM	#9
Nickle Regular Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Texas Posts: 385	*yawning like crazy. Damn you all to hell

03-29-2003, 11:14 PM	#10
Jesse Moderator - Science Discussions Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Providence, RI, USA Posts: 9,908

Freethought & Rationalism Archive

The archives are read only.