{"id":1463,"date":"2017-11-03T13:49:45","date_gmt":"2017-11-03T13:49:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/goodnights.rest\/?page_id=1463"},"modified":"2018-08-13T22:20:34","modified_gmt":"2018-08-13T22:20:34","slug":"debunked-yawning-is-a-sign-of-and-sleepiness","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/goodnights.rest\/sleep-myths-debunked\/debunked-yawning-is-a-sign-of-and-sleepiness\/","title":{"rendered":"Debunked: ‘Yawning Is a Sign of Sleepiness’"},"content":{"rendered":"
This one isn’t so much a myth as it is an incomplete statement. Not surprising, as yawning is one of the least understood behaviors observed in humans.\u00a0This is a better way to put things: “Yawning may<\/em> be a sign of sleepiness, although this is not always the case.” Humans yawn a lot, and in many different locations and situations. Why is that?<\/p>\n It may seem silly to have to define this, but here at Good Night’s Rest, we like to be thorough when answering questions and debunking myths! It never hurts to have all the information laid out.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n First of all, many animals yawn—not just humans. However, for the purposes of this article, we’re understandably going to focus on human yawning. Scientifically speaking, yawning is a reflex action that is characterized by a sudden intake of air into the body through the open mouth. This is accompanied by at least the stretching of facial, jaw and neck muscles; and often more, like angling the head upward or arching the back. Yawning involves interactions between the brain and the body, though the brain does not have to be conscious for it to occur.<\/p>\n We don’t really learn\u00a0<\/em>how to do it. Like breathing or blinking, it’s just something that the body\u00a0instinctively knows how to do. Humans yawn even before they start to talk or walk! There’s even evidence the human fetuses yawn in the womb—sometimes as early as the first trimester of pregnancy. Similar to sneezing or hiccuping, yawning is not something we consciously decide to do; often it just happens. We yawn when we’re awake, when we’re asleep, when we’re tired, when we’re alert, when it’s okay to do it, and when it’s embarrassing to be caught doing so. Yes, we can stifle a yawn, but when we do, we’re typically left feeling unsatisfied.<\/p>\n Yes, yawning is something every human does, but why<\/em> do we do it? We may think that we know the reasons behind our yawns; boredom, sleepiness and tiredness are often thought of as causes. However, what about instances of yawning\u00a0during situations that are very different? For example: Yawning has been observed in people who are hungry, stressed, or about to\u00a0start on a difficult task.<\/p>\n It seems that more than just a sign of low energy or fatigue, yawning may signal a simple change within the body—whether it’s a change in alert levels, amount of focus needed, or something other alteration made to a physiological state. Below we’ll take a closer look at why people yawn from two perspectives: outside triggers and possible underlying bodily conditions.<\/p>\n Yes, this one is true and not a myth: Yawning is<\/em> contagious. There’s just something about it that inspires an involuntary imitation. You may not have noticed it before, but pay attention the next time you yawn in a public place; chances are, someone else will follow suit. When humans see someone else yawning—even if it’s not in person, and just in a video or a photo—there is often the urge to yawn. Sometimes even the suggestion of a yawn works! To illustrate: While researching for this article, we found ourselves yawning frequently despite being very alert and interested in the topic.<\/p>\n There are many theories as to why yawning is contagious and so prone to imitation. Here are two of our favorites, boiled down to their specific cores: empathy and evolution.\u00a0 When it comes to empathy, the idea is that humans—and other animals that have been observed displaying compassion, such as chimpanzees and dogs—mimic yawns as an effect of a deeper social connection. Studies have shown that family members and friends are more likely to catch yawns from each other than strangers; this supports the empathy theory. When it comes to evolution, the idea is that yawning is a vestigial social mechanism; still practiced, but with its real significance lost to time. Some postulate that it may have originally functioned as a nonverbal signal to relax or ask for help, or a means to synchronize further actions\u00a0of a group after an observed change in environment or situation.<\/p>\nFirst: What is a Yawn?<\/h2>\n
When Do Humans Learn How to Yawn?<\/h2>\n
Why Do Humans Yawn?<\/h2>\n
It’s Contagious and Prone to Imitation<\/h3>\n
It Regulates Brain Temperature<\/h3>\n