When it comes to talking about yawning or seeing others yawn, it’s almost impossible not to do it yourself. I always wondered why that is and the only explanation I’ve ever received was “yawning is contagious.” But why? With some research needed, I found some more extensive answers.
Surprisingly enough, contagious yawning is a phenomenon that only occurs in humans and chimpanzees as a response to hearing, seeing, or even thinking about yawning. Some people are even more susceptible to yawning than others.
Though many studies have been done, scientists still struggle to find the ultimate answer behind yawning.
The University of Connecticut conducted a study about five years ago and discovered that most children are not receptive to contagious yawning until about the age of the 4. Additionally, children with autism may even be entirely less susceptible to yawning than other children.
Most studies have concluded that the phenomenon is also related to our predisposition toward empathy, the ability to understand and connect with others’ emotional states. Empathy correlates to cognitive development. But how does empathy have anything to do with contagious yawning? Well, Leeds University in England conducted a study to find out more.
“Researchers selected 40 psychology students and 40 engineering students. Each student was made to wait individually in a waiting room, along with an undercover assistant who yawned 10 times in as many minutes. The students were then administered an emotional quotient test: Students were shown 40 images of eyes and asked what emotion each one displayed.” (http://science.howstuffworks.com/)
Study Conclusion: “The psychology students — whose future profession requires them to focus on others — yawned contagiously an average of 5.5 times in the waiting room and scored 28 out of 40 on the emotional test. The engineering students — who tend to focus on things like numbers and systems — yawned an average of 1.5 times and scored 25.5 out of 40 on the following test. The difference doesn’t sound like much, but researchers consider it significant. Strangely, women, who are generally considered more emotionally attuned, didn’t score any higher than men” (The Telegraph)
All in all, contagious yawning is associated with the same parts of the brain that deal with empathy. These regions of the brain are called the precuneus and posterior temporal gyrus, which are located in the back of the brain. Though scientists have made this interesting connection, studies are still being conducted and evidence remains a tad hazy.
Here is an example how contagious yawning is also prevalent in chimpanzees as well. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2722992/Want-know-likes-See-YAWN-Contagious-yawning-sign-empathy-study-reveals.html#v-2751691058001
Sources:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-athletes-way/201403/why-is-yawning-so-contagious
http://science.howstuffworks.com/life/contagious-yawn.htm
http://mentalfloss.com/article/64654/why-are-yawns-contagious