Question
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. Because the brain stem of humans is similar to other mammals (and birds and reptiles too), it makes sense that most animals yawn, Scammell said. Indeed, birds, reptiles, mammals and some sharks can yawn — and animals with bigger brains tend to yawn longer.
“That puts a little bit of support back in the theory that what yawning is really doing is changing the brain chemistry,” Giordano said, adding that scientists are still trying to investigate the reasons why.
What is known is that the behavior is contagious. The likelihood of yawning increases sixfold, according to one study, after seeing someone else yawn.
As for yawn contagion, Giordano said it may be related to a phenomenon called social mirroring, where organisms imitate the actions of others. Other behaviors fall into this category, such as scratching, leg crossing and laughing.
Giordano said this behavior could be linked to mirror neurons in the brain.
“What these neurons are involved in is matching what we sense and feel to the way we move,” Giordano said. “So if someone is seeing me scratch my face, they would know what it feels like. You may be compelled to do it too.”
Zhou-Feng Chen, director at Washington University’s Center for the Study of Itch has conducted research on social scratching in mice. When he showed a video of one mouse scratching itself to other mice, the mice began their own scratching within five seconds. And they were five times as likely to imitate the scratching relative to control animals.
Chen said that when animals mimic others, they must be recognizing a useful behavior. Without thinking, they decide, “This behavior must be very useful. So, I better do it.”
Chen said this behavior could save energy and protect animals against disease. For example, since wild animals don’t live in sanitized environments and are often exposed to biting and stinging insects that could carry disease, this mimicking could be helping them to ward off infection.
Social bonds, too, may be reinforced by yawning and other forms of imitative behavior may, Scammell said:
“If someone flashes you a nice friendly smile, without even thinking about it, you’re likely to smile back,” he said. “It is a form of social communication, and it appears that people who are more empathetic are more likely to have this social mirroring.”
The article's main thesis is that yawning is a complex habit driven by social dynamics as well as biological reasons, and that its contagious nature reflects empathy and imitation tendencies. By presenting perspectives from a range of specialists—including Giordano, who connects yawning to social mirroring—the question-and-answer format successfully advances this issue. Giordano says, "What these neurons are involved in is matching what we sense and feel to the way we move." Furthermore, Scammell notes that yawning is a basic reaction shared by a variety of creatures, indicating the yawning's profound biological relevance. This strategy enables the text to explain how yawning contributes to social relationships and bonding in addition to its physiological functions.
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. Because the brain stem of humans is similar to other mammals (and birds and reptiles too), it makes sense that most animals yawn, Scammell said. Indeed, birds, reptiles, mammals and some sharks can yawn — and animals with bigger brains tend to yawn longer.
“That puts a little bit of support back in the theory that what yawning is really doing is changing the brain chemistry,” Giordano said, adding that scientists are still trying to investigate the reasons why.
What is known is that the behavior is contagious. The likelihood of yawning increases sixfold, according to one study, after seeing someone else yawn.
As for yawn contagion, Giordano said it may be related to a phenomenon called social mirroring, where organisms imitate the actions of others. Other behaviors fall into this category, such as scratching, leg crossing and laughing.
Giordano said this behavior could be linked to mirror neurons in the brain.
“What these neurons are involved in is matching what we sense and feel to the way we move,” Giordano said. “So if someone is seeing me scratch my face, they would know what it feels like. You may be compelled to do it too.”
Zhou-Feng Chen, director at Washington University’s Center for the Study of Itch has conducted research on social scratching in mice. When he showed a video of one mouse scratching itself to other mice, the mice began their own scratching within five seconds. And they were five times as likely to imitate the scratching relative to control animals.
Chen said that when animals mimic others, they must be recognizing a useful behavior. Without thinking, they decide, “This behavior must be very useful. So, I better do it.”
Chen said this behavior could save energy and protect animals against disease. For example, since wild animals don’t live in sanitized environments and are often exposed to biting and stinging insects that could carry disease, this mimicking could be helping them to ward off infection.
Social bonds, too, may be reinforced by yawning and other forms of imitative behavior may, Scammell said:
“If someone flashes you a nice friendly smile, without even thinking about it, you’re likely to smile back,” he said. “It is a form of social communication, and it appears that people who are more empathetic are more likely to have this social mirroring.”
The article's main thesis is that yawning is a complex habit driven by social dynamics as well as biological reasons, and that its contagious nature reflects empathy and imitation tendencies. By presenting perspectives from a range of specialists—including Giordano, who connects yawning to social mirroring—the question-and-answer format successfully advances this issue. Giordano says, "What these neurons are involved in is matching what we sense and feel to the way we move." Furthermore, Scammell notes that yawning is a basic reaction shared by a variety of creatures, indicating the yawning's profound biological relevance. This strategy enables the text to explain how yawning contributes to social relationships and bonding in addition to its physiological functions.
Answers
GPT-4o mini
The article presents a multifaceted exploration of yawning, emphasizing both its biological underpinnings and its social implications. The central thesis posits that yawning is not merely a reflexive behavior associated with tiredness but rather a complex habit influenced by a mix of physiological and social factors.
Key points from experts like Douglas Parham highlight the idea that yawning might serve as a means to regulate carbon dioxide and oxygen levels in the body, acting as a compensatory mechanism when a person or animal is fatigued. James Giordano further adds to this discussion by suggesting that yawning could help in maintaining optimal brain function and temperature, positioning it as a potential "yawn gate" triggered by chemical signals in the body.
The contagion of yawning—with its sixfold increase likelihood upon witnessing someone else yawn—illustrates a profound connection to social dynamics. Giordano's suggestion of social mirroring, where individuals subconsciously mimic the actions and emotions of others, speaks to the evolutionary significance of yawning as a behavior that fosters social bonds and enhances empathy. This aspect not only bridges the gap between biology and sociology but also suggests that yawning may play a role in group cohesion and communication.
Moreover, the insights from Thomas Scammell regarding the primitive reflex shared among many animals, alongside the observations from Zhou-Feng Chen on social scratching in mice, paint a broader picture of how certain behaviors, including yawning, contribute to survival strategies and social interactions.
Overall, the article effectively combines perspectives from various specialists to argue that yawning is a behavior deeply intertwined with both our biological needs and our social lives. By exploring the connections among empathy, imitation, and physiological function, it invites deeper inquiry into this common but often overlooked behavior.
Key points from experts like Douglas Parham highlight the idea that yawning might serve as a means to regulate carbon dioxide and oxygen levels in the body, acting as a compensatory mechanism when a person or animal is fatigued. James Giordano further adds to this discussion by suggesting that yawning could help in maintaining optimal brain function and temperature, positioning it as a potential "yawn gate" triggered by chemical signals in the body.
The contagion of yawning—with its sixfold increase likelihood upon witnessing someone else yawn—illustrates a profound connection to social dynamics. Giordano's suggestion of social mirroring, where individuals subconsciously mimic the actions and emotions of others, speaks to the evolutionary significance of yawning as a behavior that fosters social bonds and enhances empathy. This aspect not only bridges the gap between biology and sociology but also suggests that yawning may play a role in group cohesion and communication.
Moreover, the insights from Thomas Scammell regarding the primitive reflex shared among many animals, alongside the observations from Zhou-Feng Chen on social scratching in mice, paint a broader picture of how certain behaviors, including yawning, contribute to survival strategies and social interactions.
Overall, the article effectively combines perspectives from various specialists to argue that yawning is a behavior deeply intertwined with both our biological needs and our social lives. By exploring the connections among empathy, imitation, and physiological function, it invites deeper inquiry into this common but often overlooked behavior.
5 sentences only
GPT-4o mini
The article posits that yawning is a complex behavior influenced by both biological and social factors. Experts like Douglas Parham suggest it helps regulate carbon dioxide and oxygen levels, while James Giordano connects yawning to social mirroring and empathy. Yawning is noted to be contagious, with its likelihood increasing significantly when witnessing others yawn, reflecting social dynamics. Thomas Scammell points out that yawning is a primitive reflex shared among many species, highlighting its evolutionary significance. Overall, the article asserts that yawning not only serves physiological functions but also plays a role in social bonding and communication.