Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: StJohn Townshend on 07/08/2008 09:24:43

Title: What happens when we yawn and why do we do it?
Post by: StJohn Townshend on 07/08/2008 09:24:43

StJohn Townshend  asked the Naked Scientists:

Hey naked scientists

My name is St John and I live in Johannesburg, South Africa. I  listen  to your podcast (http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/) regularly and love it.

I have a theory about why yawning is contagious and that is... we yawn because our brain is lacking oxygen so we yawn to get more oxygen into our system. The reason why when we see someone else yawn, we yawn is because when we see someone yawn, our brain thinks we need more oxygen so therefore we yawn.

Please tell me if this is true cause my mom told me and i would really like someone to tell me if it is in fact true?

StJohn (Pronounced SinJin)

What do you think?

Title: What happens when we yawn and why do we do it?
Post by: curliein on 07/08/2008 16:20:13

Yes its true, even i was yawning while reading ur message.....

Title: What happens when we yawn and why do we do it?
Post by: rosalind dna on 07/08/2008 17:01:51

I heard once that the reason that we yawn also hiccup is to exhale bad air from our lungs.

So I take 10 deep breaths afterwards and it works for me.

I only have to think of yawning then it starts me off.