"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. (no plagiarism)

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Based on the information in the article, a logical inference about why yawns are contagious is that they may serve a social or physiological signaling function among individuals. The article notes that yawning can be triggered by chemical changes in the body, such as the build-up of carbon dioxide or the increase of adenosine, which signals the need for a yawn. When one person yawns, it can catalyze similar physiological responses in those around them, prompting a contagious effect. This is supported by the idea that yawns help to increase oxygen intake and may even serve to cool the brain, which could be beneficial in maintaining alertness in a group setting, thus reinforcing social bonds and enhancing group awareness.

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"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. (no plagiarism)

1 answer

Based on the information in the article, a logical inference about why yawns are contagious is that they may serve a social or physiological signaling function among individuals. The article notes that yawning can be triggered by chemical changes in the body, such as the build-up of carbon dioxide or the increase of adenosine, which signals the need for a yawn. When one person yawns, it can catalyze similar physiological responses in those around them, prompting a contagious effect. This is supported by the idea that yawns help to increase oxygen intake and may even serve to cool the brain, which could be beneficial in maintaining alertness in a group setting, thus reinforcing social bonds and enhancing group awareness.

GPT-4o mini · Answer

Based on the information in the article, a logical inference about why yawns are contagious is that they may serve a social or physiological signaling function among individuals. The article notes that yawning can be triggered by chemical changes in the body, such as the build-up of carbon dioxide or the increase of adenosine, which signals the need for a yawn. When one person yawns, it can catalyze similar physiological responses in those around them, prompting a contagious effect. This is supported by the idea that yawns help to increase oxygen intake and may even serve to cool the brain, which could be beneficial in maintaining alertness in a group setting, thus reinforcing social bonds and enhancing group awareness.