Why Do We Yawn—And Why Is It Contagious?
Yawning. The messenger of sleep deprivation. You can’t run from it. Yawning is something we’ve all done, whether it’s mid-conversation, in class, or even after seeing your friend do it; it’s a natural phenomenon. Yawning is such a tiny, instinctive act that we all do every day, but it rarely prompts anyone to pause and question it. Why in the world do we yawn? Is it our body telling us that it’s tired? Is it just a silly way our brain mimics others’ yawning? Why do we yawn automatically when seeing somebody else yawn?
Good question! Many scientists believe this wonder is connected to the idea of empathy and subconscious social bonding. A 2011 study published found that people are more likely to “catch” a yawn from those they have a deeper emotional connection to. This research suggests that our bodies have evolved in a way that makes yawning a cue to strengthen social connections.

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