Yawns are likely contagious due to the physiological and social mechanisms they trigger in response to fatigue and changes in the body's chemistry. As Douglas Parham notes, when humans are tired, there is often a build-up of carbon dioxide, and yawning serves as a means to quickly increase oxygen intake and expel this excess carbon dioxide. Additionally, James Giordano points out that chemicals like adenosine can signal the body to yawn, suggesting that yawning serves a biological purpose. This implies that when one person yawns, it may prompt others to do the same as a natural response to the body's need for oxygen and regulation of carbon dioxide levels. This reasoning is logical as it connects the physiological need to yawn with the social observation of yawns being contagious, indicating that yawning might be a shared response among individuals experiencing similar states of tiredness or chemical changes in the body.
"Why are yawns contagious? We asked a scientist" by Teresa Carey One theory argues that when humans are tired, we stop taking deep breaths, which causes a build-up of carbon dioxide in the body, said Douglas Parham, a speech scientist at Wichita State University. A yawn might be a special kind of respiration, Parham said. It builds up oxygen quickly, while expelling carbon dioxide, even more than a deep breath. Excess carbon dioxide and other chemical changes, such as a drop in oxygen or increase in a compound called adenosine, could also act as “yawn gates,” said James Giordano, a neuroethicist and neuroscientist at Georgetown University. These chemicals send out a signal that triggers a yawn. By yawning, we compress the muscles of the face, driving oxygen-enriched blood to the brain, Giordano said. Other proposals state the purpose of yawning is to cool the brain, or to stretch internal organs like tissues and lungs, helping the body to liven up. Despite being a fundamental part of our lives, information on yawning is thin, said Thomas Scammell, a neurologist at Harvard Medical School who studies sleep. But he added that yawning is a primitive reflex among many animals that originates in the brain stem. 1 of 4 Question Use this excerpt from the "Why are yawns contagious? We asked a scientist" article to answer the question. Based on the information in the article, make a logical inference about why yawns are contagious. In 3–5 sentences, provide specific evidence from the text to support your inference and explain why your reasoning is logical and valid. (4 points) Short Answer Rubric (4 points) Points Awarded Criteria 4 The answer is very clear. The answer is fully supported by details. There may be a few errors in grammar, usage, or mechanics. Errors do not interfere with meaning. 3 The answer is mostly clear. The answer is supported by mostly relevant details. There are a few errors in grammar, usage, or mechanics. Errors do not interfere with m
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