Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: Karl Avillo on 05/06/2011 18:30:02

Title: What causes a yawn?
Post by: Karl Avillo on 05/06/2011 18:30:02

Karl Avillo  asked the Naked Scientists:
   
My name is Karl and I am from the Philippines. I listen and download all your amazing podcasts (http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/).

Now my question is, what causes a yawn?

Thank you for answering my question, Dr. Chris

What do you think?

Title: What causes a yawn?
Post by: Incognito on 08/06/2011 17:47:14

I always thought it was the brain craving oxygen??? 

Title: What causes a yawn?
Post by: CZARCAR on 08/06/2011 20:34:43

& why does it seem contagious? & i just yawned reading this

Title: What causes a yawn?
Post by: Karen W. on 19/06/2011 10:58:08

Me too!

Title: What causes a yawn?
Post by: CZARCAR on 20/06/2011 01:26:05

just remembered years ago trying to get a dog to yawn by yawning but cant remember if she did. Just woke up my old cat to try & yawned twice as he looked at me & then,then,then guess what! He meowed, dropped his head & went back to sleep.

Title: What causes a yawn?
Post by: Karen W. on 02/07/2011 11:01:18

LOL...LOL.. That sounds like a cat to me.. you know I must say I have never seen a dog or cat yawn... I don't believe they do unless I am missing something? LOL..

Title: What causes a yawn?
Post by: CZARCAR on 02/07/2011 13:23:32

posted similar on FB & friend said she had a dog which yawned whenever she yawned

Title: What causes a yawn?
Post by: Mr. Data on 02/07/2011 15:52:13

As far as my knowledge goes, or atleast when I was younger, It was not fully known why people yawn, but there was some understanding it maybe is to expell stale breath (oxygen) from the lungs.