Why is yawning contagious? Did you pay attention to this? After all, if someone yawns, everyone begins to do the same. Even if there is absolutely no reason for this. So why is yawning contagious? Scientists have tried to figure out ...
Why is yawning contagious? Observations
What do the doctors say? Their very first conviction on the question of why yawning is contagious is the following thought: people who do not know how to empathize, that is, tough personalities who are unable to imagine themselves in the place of someone else, are prone to it.
"Why is yawning contagious?" - many people ask. Yes, of course, it is closely connected with the "foreplay of sleep." But, nevertheless, why are yawning people who, it would seem, do not want to sleep?
One of the theories is rather unusual. Once upon a time, people lived in whole flocks, like a chimpanzee. And they had to go to bed only at the same time. Yawning just served them as a signal that the time has come for sleep. The yawn of each neighbor was a signal to yawn to the person himself. Then fall asleep. By the way, herd animals have been doing this for a long time.
There is an infectious yawning, by the way, between animals and humans. As soon as the owner yawned, the dog repeats this. The fact is that dogs tend to empathize with their human master. They understand all his gestures and looks.
Domino effect
Why do people yawn and why is yawning contagious? It would seem that you are not feeling very tired. However, as soon as someone yawns, you also open your mouth in a long yawn. Such a phenomenon is called "contagious yawn." Its origin, in principle, has not yet been clarified by scientists. However, several hypotheses still exist.
One of them claims that infectious yawns provoke certain stimuli. This is called an established pattern of action. The sample works simultaneously as a reflex and a domino effect. That is, the yawn of an outsider literally forces the same person to do the same, who became an accidental witness to this event. Most importantly, this reflex is impossible to resist. Just like a yawn that has begun. In a word, the situation is very interesting.
Chameleon effect
Consider the second physiological reason why yawning is so contagious. It is known as the chameleon effect, or unconscious mimicry. Alien behavior serves as the basis for her unintentional imitation. People tend to borrow poses and gestures from each other. For example, your interlocutor crosses his legs opposite. And you will do the same without even noticing it.
This happens, apparently, due to a special set of mirror neurons, sharpened by copying other people's actions, which are extremely important for self-awareness and training. A person is able to learn some physical practices (knitting, applying lipstick, etc.) by observing how someone else does it. It is proved that, hearing or contemplating someone else's yawn, we activate our mirror neurons.
The psychological reason is also based on the action of mirror neurons. It is called the "yawn of empathy." That is, it is the ability to share and understand other people's emotions, which is extremely important for people.
Not so long ago, neurologists found that mirror neurons give a person the opportunity to experience empathy at the deepest level. The study found out whether dogs can respond to the sounds of human yawns. As it turned out, animals often pay attention to the familiar yawning of their owners.
Summary
And finally. Yawning is contagious and very helpful. The phenomenon is rather mysterious. Why is it needed at all? Some people think this is a great way to increase the amount of oxygen in the blood. Accordingly, for vigor. Others argue that yawning lowers the temperature of the brain, cools it. But, that's why it is contagious - it's hard to say.
Incidentally, this concerns not only yawns. Infectious phenomena are also panic, enthusiasm, laughter, and many of our other conditions. Remember that a person is a “herd animal”. Therefore, “herd instincts” are developed very well in him.
Thus, we can draw certain conclusions. Yawning is really contagious, and it is almost impossible to resist the urge to yawn in the presence of a sleepy person. All the reasons are in our psychology, in the features of our brain and thinking. In general, the human body, as usual, does not cease to amaze us!