Why do we yawn?

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Stuart
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Why do we yawn?

Post by Stuart »

Even as scientists get better at finding explanations for animal behavior—at the genetic, physiological, evolutionary and neural level—certain habits remain implacably mysterious. And this is true even when we're the species in question and can see the behavior from the inside. Yawning, for instance: You might think that we would know why we yawn, but it has no obvious need, function or effect.

A recent study confirmed that babies who open their mouths in the womb are indeed yawning, not just gaping. This was long suspected and may help to nail shut the coffin of a theory that has refused to die: that yawning is about filling the lungs with oxygen or emptying them of carbon dioxide.

It's now 25 years since Dr. Robert Provine, now at the University of Maryland, did the obvious experiment. He enriched the oxygen or the carbon dioxide in the air breathed by experimental subjects and found not a hint of suppression or exacerbation of yawning compared with control subjects breathing normal air.

So what is known about yawning?

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Synthesis
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Re: Why do we yawn?

Post by Synthesis »

The best theory I've heard is that it's due to evolution from cave-men times before homo-sapiens had a language. The head of the tribe would open his mouth to signal it is time to retire, and so the rest of his peeps would answer by doing the same. This also explains why yawning is contagious.
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Re: Why do we yawn?

Post by Anakha56 »

Not only humans yawn. It's funny hearing a cat yawn while trying to get a meow out :lol:.
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Re: Why do we yawn?

Post by Tribble »

I just hear or say the word yawn and I yawn
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Re: Why do we yawn?

Post by hamin_aus »

Synthesis wrote:The best theory I've heard is that it's due to evolution from cave-men times before homo-sapiens had a language. The head of the tribe would open his mouth to signal it is time to retire, and so the rest of his peeps would answer by doing the same. This also explains why yawning is contagious.
Then why do animals also do it?
Stupid "theory" is stupid

Edit:
I see Annie debunked that "theory" in the next post.
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Re: Why do we yawn?

Post by StarBound »

Airplanes yawn to.
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Re: Why do we yawn?

Post by SykomantiS »

Yaw != yawn
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Re: Why do we yawn?

Post by Tribble »

:slap: but then it is bedtime
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Re: Why do we yawn?

Post by Anakha56 »

hamin_aus wrote:
Synthesis wrote:The best theory I've heard is that it's due to evolution from cave-men times before homo-sapiens had a language. The head of the tribe would open his mouth to signal it is time to retire, and so the rest of his peeps would answer by doing the same. This also explains why yawning is contagious.
Then why do animals also do it?
Stupid "theory" is stupid

Edit:
I see Annie debunked that "theory" in the next post.
It's a sad day when he bests you in a match of the minds
:P
Wuv you to hamin_aus :love8:
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Re: Why do we yawn?

Post by Synthesis »

Next time I find a talking cat, I'll ask what the animals' point of view on this is.
And I won't argue about our difference in intelligence as it seems you two have each other backs (lit/fig?), while I got no support. :P
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