Neuroscience

Yawning—why is it so contagious and why should it matter?

Feeling tired? Even if we aren't tired, why do we yawn if someone else does? Experts at the University of Nottingham have published research that suggests the human propensity for contagious yawning is triggered automatically ...

Other

Why do we yawn and why is it contagious?

Consider the scenario. You're driving on a long, straight stretch of country highway at about 2pm on a sunny afternoon, and you're desperately keen to reach your destination. You're trying to stay alert and attentive, but ...

Psychology & Psychiatry

Those who stay together yawn together

You're more likely to respond to a yawn with another yawn when it comes from family member or a friend than from a stranger, says a study published Dec. 7 in the online journal PLoS ONE.

Health

Are yawns really contagious?

(HealthDay)—We've all "caught" yawning from other people, but why that happens is unclear, according to a psychologist who has researched the behavior.

Medical research

Fetuses yawn in the womb, according to new research

The 4D scans of 15 healthy fetuses, by Durham and Lancaster Universities, also suggest that yawning is a developmental process which could potentially give doctors another index of a fetus' health.

Psychology & Psychiatry

Psychopaths may not yawn along with you

(HealthDay)—People with psychopathic traits are less likely to catch "contagious yawning" than those with higher levels of empathy, a new study suggests.

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