Naked Science Forum
Life Sciences => Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution => Topic started by: JohnH on 21/02/2009 13:30:02
-
JohnH asked the Naked Scientists:
Why is yawning contagious? Â Is this a learned social behaviour or is it a hard-wired biological response?
Thanks!
John from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
What do you think?
-
Why do we Yawn? (http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/content/interviews/interview/749/)
Why are yawns so contagious even from a TV? A graphic designer from Ohio, I listen while at work and find yawns impossible to resist whilst watching them on television. (http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/content/questions/question/2067/)
I’ve got a five week old daughter who yawns. When she yawns he yawns as well. When he yawns she doesn’t yawn. Is the contagious yawning thing learnt or a cultural thing? (http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/content/questions/question/1875/)
-
I haven't read the links, so if I am repeating apologies.
There is a theory that copying a yawn is only done by empathetic people.