Did You Know 
3 Comments Why Do We Yawn?
This Did You Know comes to you from a question my daughter asked me. Why do we yawn? Well, I had no idea what the correct answer is. If I don’t know the answer, I’m not going to make one up and tell some story to her. When she finds out the truth, not telling the truth in the beginning will diminish me as an influence in her life. So if I don’t know the answer, I have but one answer.
“I don’t know the answer but we can look it up together.”
Here is a summary of what we do know.
1. Every person yawns no matter their age.
2. Animals such as most mammals and others yawn.
3. Yawning is not a medical problem.
About now is when you say “yes, I know that.” All of that information is rather obvious. But there is another detail. Since yawning is not an issue, research into yawning is poorly funded as there are other priorities.
So what do we know about yawning? The answer is the questions surrounding yawning are still a mystery. Studies have been done and have been well summarized at this Neuroscience for Kids website.
To answer the question at the end, the article about yawning made me yawn 3 times.
That brings the next question of are yawns contagious? Yes, they are. Why are they contagious? Again, no one really knows.
What do the other websites say? You can try this Science Base answer. You can keep on searching and you’ll get the same answer.
There are many ideas as to why but no proof. The only answer is no one truly knows what the answer is. I can guarantee one thing though. Reading this article about yawning like got you yawning. If that didn’t do the trick, I dare you to watch this cute video and avoid yawning.
Thank you,
Anah
The world started with only one Yawn and it has been passed from one person to the next for many a millennia.
It is odd isn’t it, that we really don’t know why we yawn…the best guess is that it somehow helps keep you awake…
That is a great post. I just blame my yawning on lack of oxygen.