Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: Sandi Fosnot on 26/07/2008 15:09:51

Title: Why are yawns contagious, even from a TV?
Post by: Sandi Fosnot on 26/07/2008 15:09:51

Sandi Fosnot  asked the Naked Scientists:

Hello, my name is Sandi. - I'm a graphic designer in Dayton, Ohio and I listen (http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/) while I work.

I have just recently subscribed to your podcast (http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/), so I am starting at the very beginning and working my way through to the present ones.  So if you have answered my question in a previous podcast, I am sorry.  

What I would like to know is this: Why are yawns so contagious? If I see someone on TV or hear someone on the radio that yawns, I get this uncontrollable urge to yawn too.  I think this is very interesting because it is the only thing that I know of that can be contagious from TV/radio to real life.  

Please answer my question via email, since I am so behind on the new podcasts (http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/) and probably won't hear it for quite some time.

Thank you so much and I look forward to listening to you guys live when I catch up!

Sandi Fosnot

What do you think?

Title: Why are yawns contagious, even from a TV?
Post by: thedoc on 30/07/2008 10:17:35

Listen to the answer to this question on our podcast by clicking here (http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2008.07.27/)

Title: Why are yawns contagious, even from a TV?
Post by: SeanMahoney on 15/10/2008 06:07:30

http://www.al.com/healthfit/mobileregister/index.ssf?/specialreport/mobileregister/healthwise/04_307yawns.html

Easiest to just link to someone elses hard work!

Sean Mahoney