A Pointless, but true question.

Wormez · Post by **Wormez** » Sat Aug 06, 2005 5:42 pm

Why is it that when one person yawns... everybody else who saw them do it yawn too.

Vahene · Post by **Vahene** » Sat Aug 06, 2005 6:01 pm

LOL

Because we do it just to be annoying!

*push*

You outta know that.

It's a good question actually.. I've noticed it happens.

-K.

DM Agony · Post by **DM Agony** » Sun Aug 07, 2005 1:23 am

I just yawned, honestly.

Feral · Post by **Feral** » Sun Aug 07, 2005 5:00 am

So, the question remains - why do we yawn? Dr. Provine suggests that perhaps yawning is like stretching. Yawning and stretching increase blood pressure and heart rate and also flex muscles and joints. Evidence that yawning and stretching may be related comes from the observation that if you try to stifle or prevent a yawn by clenching your jaws shut, the yawn is somewhat "unsatisfying." For some reason, the stretching of jaw and face muscles is necessary for a good yawn.
It is possible that yawns are contagious because at one time in evolutionary history, the yawn served to coordinate the social behavior of a group of animals. When one member of the group yawned to signal an event, all the other members of the group also yawned. Yawns may still be contagious these days because of a leftover response (a "vestigial" response) that is not used anymore. None of this has been proven true and yawns are still one of the mysteries of the mind

there you go.

thanks to "neuroscience for kids"

cheers

DM Agony · Post by **DM Agony** » Sun Aug 07, 2005 5:53 am

Again, nice to see an old face pop up. Leave it to the oddest conversations to bring 'em out of the wood works.

Wormez · Post by **Wormez** » Sun Aug 07, 2005 6:11 am

Lol Agony.

It is strange but I can see that been a decent enough theory

Muletang · Post by **Muletang** » Sun Aug 07, 2005 2:03 pm

cant remember where I heard this, but its something to do with pressure in your head/ears, one person yawns to maintain a balance, which then slightly alters the pressure around you, so you yawn to maintain the balance also. Sounds good to me..of course it might just be bollox

Boon · Post by **Boon** » Sun Aug 07, 2005 3:43 pm

DM Agony wrote:Again, nice to see an old face pop up. Leave it to the oddest conversations to bring 'em out of the wood works.

Agreed. Good to see you're keeping tabs on us, Dunny.

As for why we yawn when we see others yawn, I don't think there is a solid reason why.

But here are some theories.

Evelond Formos · Post by **Evelond Formos** » Sun Aug 07, 2005 3:50 pm

DM Agony wrote:I just yawned, honestly.

Thanks a lot, Agony. You just made me yawn.

Wormez · Post by **Wormez** » Sun Aug 07, 2005 5:16 pm

FFS EVELOND I SWEAR. I BLOODY YAWNED THEN *pulls hair out*

Eragon · Post by **Eragon** » Sun Aug 07, 2005 6:14 pm

Dogs and other K-9s yawn to calm down other members of the pack. Perhaps it is, like mentioned before, a trait from our ancestors, when we ourselves lived in packs like other mammals. To calm the group down when panic struck.

Other than that, we also yawn because the brain needs more oxygen. Why it's contageous isn't explained there, however.

Feral · Post by **Feral** » Sun Aug 07, 2005 6:16 pm

Boon wrote:
DM Agony wrote:Again, nice to see an old face pop up. Leave it to the oddest conversations to bring 'em out of the wood works.

Agreed. Good to see you're keeping tabs on us, Dunny.

As for why we yawn when we see others yawn, I don't think there is a solid reason why.

But here are some theories.

hehe i think my location says it all mike

Oye99 · Post by **Oye99** » Sun Aug 07, 2005 6:16 pm

Monkey see, monkey do?

Redder · Post by **Redder** » Sun Aug 07, 2005 6:27 pm

It's all to do with Atmospheric presure, when one person yawns, it lowers the pressure in the immediate vicinity of another person and therefore they are compelled to yawn. Why it works via a forum thread over the internet is because you are -all- mad I tell ya!!

Ohio41 · Post by **Ohio41** » Mon Aug 08, 2005 9:53 pm

Ummm, I yawn cause it feels damn good.

So ha!