Why is yawning contagious? Did you pay attention to it? After all, as soon as someone yawns, everyone around starts doing the same. Even if there is absolutely no reason for it. So why is yawning contagious? Scientists tried to figure it out…
Why is yawning contagious? Observations
What do the doctors say? Their very first belief as to why yawning is contagious is that people who are prone to yawning are those who cannot empathize, i.e. tough individuals who are unable to imagine themselves in the place of someone else.
"Why is yawning contagious?" many people ask. Yes, it is, of course, closely related to the "prelude of sleep." But, nevertheless, why do people yawn, who, it would seem, don’t even want to sleep?
One of the theories is rather unusual. Once upon a time, people lived in herds, like chimpanzees. And they had to go to bed only at the same time. Yawning just served them as a signal that it was time for sleep. The yawn of each neighbor was a signal to yawn to the person himself. After that - sleep. By the way, herd animals have been doing this for a long time.
There is a contagious yawning, by the way, betweenanimals and people. As soon as the owner yawns, the dog repeats it. The fact is that dogs tend to empathize with their human owner. They understand all his gestures and looks.
Domino effect
Why do people yawn and why is yawning contagious? It would seem that you do not feel very tired. However, as soon as someone yawns, you also open your mouth in a long yawn. This phenomenon is called "contagious yawning". Its origin, in principle, has not yet been clarified by scientists. However, several hypotheses still exist.
One of them claims that a contagious yawn is provoked by certain stimuli. This is called a set pattern of action. The sample works simultaneously as a reflex and a domino effect. That is, the yawn of an outsider literally makes another person, who has become an accidental witness to this event, do the same. Most importantly, this reflex cannot be resisted. Just like the beginning of a yawn. In short, the situation is very interesting.
Chameleon effect
Consider the second physiological reason why yawning is so contagious. It is known as the chameleon effect, or unconscious mimicry. Someone else's behavior serves as the basis for its unintentional imitation. People tend to borrow postures and gestures from each other. For example, your interlocutor crosses his legs opposite. And you will do the same without even noticing.
This happens, apparently, due to a special set of mirrorneurons sharpened to copy other people's actions, which are extremely important for self-awareness and learning. A person is able to learn some physical practices (knitting, applying lipstick, etc.) by watching someone else do it. It has been proven that when we hear or contemplate someone else's yawn, we activate our mirror neurons.
Psychological cause is also based on the action of mirror neurons. It's called the empathy yawn. That is, it is the ability to share and understand other people's emotions, which is extremely important for people.
Recently, neuroscientists have found that mirror neurons enable a person to experience empathy at the deepest level. The study was conducted to find out whether dogs can respond to the sounds of human yawns. As it turned out, animals pay attention more often to the familiar yawn of their owners.
Results
And finally. Yawning is contagious and very helpful. The phenomenon is rather mysterious. Why is it needed at all? Some believe that this is a great way to increase the amount of oxygen in the blood. Accordingly, for cheerfulness. Others argue that yawning lowers the temperature of the brain, cools it down. But, that's why it is contagious - it's still hard to say.
By the way, this isn't just about yawns. Panic, excitement, laughter, and many other states of ours are also contagious. Remember that man is a "herd animal". Therefore, his “herd instincts” are very well developed in him.
Soit is possible to draw certain conclusions. Yawning is truly contagious, and it is almost impossible to resist the urge to yawn in the presence of a sleepy person. All the reasons are in our psychology, in the features of our brain and thinking. In general, the human body, as usual, never ceases to amaze us!
